Dress for Success has been going for as long as I can remember. 25 years to be exact. Their mission is to empower women toward economic independence by offering support, professional attire, and development tools to help them succeed in work and life. The organization is supported by a team of over 91 volunteers and part-time staff who assist women and families in need.As a teen and a young adult my Mum ran a dry-cleaning shop that would dry clean the donation clothes that came in. Sometimes she would tell me about the different people that would drop off an array of clothes for this charity, ranging from luxury designer to The Warehouse. I've always loved their ethos behind supporting women to economic independence and have always loved this charity.
That's why I was excited to be invited o help fundraise clothing for one of their events and chat to their Executive Manager, Robyn Moore. Read on for this exclusive Sans Pareil interview and find out more about this New Zealand institution.
Hi Robyn! Dress For Success has been around for a long time. Why do you think it’s been able to go for so long?
Our organisation was founded on the principle of repurposing unwanted clothing items to women
in need. Today, we remain focused on continuing to help vulnerable women experiencing socio-
economic inequality with the resources and support they need to gain employment and enable
them to thrive in both work and life.
There may be various personal and systemic factors affecting their ability to gain employment.
We work closely with these women to facilitate the courage and skills required to help create lasting, inter-generational change and help break the cycle of poverty and dependence. The practical resources and support we provide in our two-year wraparound service enable us to help approximately 60% of the women successfully secure employment.
Dress for Success has changed in what the charity is recently; why?
When Dress for Success began, the primary focus was on providing women with appropriate
clothing for job interviews. However, the breadth and depth of need have changed significantly
over the years.
In 2024, we supported 1,500 women, with 581 of them being job seekers. The remaining women
needed appropriate clothing for court appearances, housing appointments, bank appointments, young students leaving university or school, victims of family violence, those in safe houses or emergency housing, as well as women experiencing hardship. We are focused on supporting them at their point of need—whatever that need may be.
What is a memorable moment you have with DFS?
Every day, there are moments when a woman starts to see herself in a new light for the first time.
She stands taller, she laughs, and her confidence grows. The interaction between our clients and
our volunteers is incredibly powerful; you see the belief in themselves change; it’s something truly tangible.
Over the past five years, I have seen a shift in the evolving needs of the women we support. One memorable moment that has stuck with me is when a young woman in her early twenties came to us looking for appropriate clothing for a stop/go attendant on the roads. We quickly helped her with that need, and since she had plenty of time left in her appointment, we invited her to have some fun with the clothes (as we allow an hour for each appointment). She tried on a few dresses and heels, looked in the mirror, and had a big WOW experience. She said, “I don’t want to be a stop/go person anymore. I want to be a receptionist.” The clothes helped her see her potential in a completely new way. She went on to secure a receptionist job, and for me, it was a powerful reminder of how something as simple as clothing and investing some time can help them see they are capable of more.
Why are charity events such as the Ladies Long Lunch so important for fundraising?
Events such as the Ladies Long Lunch in February, being held at Allely Estate in Auckland, help to play a crucial role in raising awareness of what we do to support vulnerable women and the huge need that exists in our community. They offer a valuable opportunity for people to engage with us and get involved. This can be by donating unwanted clothing, shoes, handbags, toiletries, etc., and/or volunteering with us. At Dress for Success, we are a small charity with a big footprint in our community.
What is the key goal of this fundraiser?
The key goal for this fundraiser is to raise awareness of the cause and the ongoing need for
clothing donations and funding. Attendees can bring their gently loved and unwanted clothing,
shoes, handbags, jewellery etc so that they can get gifted to a woman in need. Each year, we repurpose six tonnes of unwanted clothing. 80% of the clothing we provide to our clients are gently pre-loved items with plenty of wears left. The event will collect these donations and raise essential funds to enable us to continue offering our services free of charge to women who need them most.
What key stats should people know about poverty-stricken women in NZ?
Poverty among women in New Zealand is influenced by various factors, including household composition, employment status, and ethnicity. Māori and Pacific populations experience higher rates of poverty compared to other groups in New Zealand. Of the 1,500 women we supported in 2024, 71% were in this grouping. Women and girls aged 10 and above spend 18.1% of their time on unpaid care and domestic work, compared to 10.6% for men. This disparity can limit women’s opportunities for paid employment and contribute to economic vulnerability. 32% of our clients are aged 18-24, 16% are aged 25-30, with the remainder being over 31. 239 were single mothers.
Why are clothes important to how we feel and present to the outside world, especially when re-
entering the workforce?
Clothes play a crucial role in shaping how we feel and present ourselves to the world, especially when re-entering the workforce. We all know how we feel when we have the right outfit—it helps us feel prepared, confident and empowered. First impressions matter, and clothing plays a huge role in that. It can serve as an expression of our personal brand. When starting a new job, you want to stand out for the right reasons, and appropriate clothing can help.
How can people get involved in DFS?
Volunteering is a great way to get involved, whether that be as a client stylist, sales/event support, clothes sorter, career coach, mentor or workshop facilitator. We welcome corporate teams to help set up our community sales, where we sell surplus clothing items for $5. These sales help to fund our free services for women who need them.
We always welcome sponsors, and people can partner with us by donating funds, goods, or
services. To learn more, visit auckland.dressforsuccess.org and find their local region as well.
