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From the Ground Up - A story about homelessness in Sydney
We always like to stay positive on Sydey Chic and report about all the chic things in this city. This time we are reporting on something not chic - homelessness in Sydney, We can't ignore it because it is all around us. So how can we help?
We can work with Mere and Youth Off The Streets and support their campaign "From The Ground Up" which launches on Thursday the 28th of August to raise awareness of the situation.
WHAT IS IT?
With a camera on hand, Designer James Noakes brings his audience to the streets to document this poignant issue through photographs of real individuals living their day to day lives. Each raw and authentic image is accompanied with an interview, giving an individual account of their current situation and how they found themselves in it. Each individual has signed an acknowledgement to ensure that Mere is not exploiting their situation, but exposing a serious situation that anyone could find themselves in when times are tough.
The night will also feature a curation of street artists donating their work for charity. These artworks will be perspectives and interpretations of the issue and the individuals that come along with it. Photographs from the campaign will also be exhibited on the night, and will be available for purchase on pre order, along with the book. All proceeds and donations from the night will once again, be donated to Youth Off the Streets.
Mere's campaign aims to highlight this distressing situation and to assist participating individuals by supplying them with a survival kit. In this kit contains a new pair of shoes supplied by Mere; a new pair of socks (supplied by Farewell Co.); camping equipment such as a thermal blanket; sleeping mat, canteen food pack (supplied by Union St. Deli) and other small necessities to help them face their situation with integrity. Encasing all of these items is a Mere leather duffle bag.
These photographs will be used as Mere's SS15 campaign and will be featured on the official website, in stores, online and various social media outlets. Greater outreach of these images will result in greater exposure of the situation. Coinciding with the campaign will be the release of a hardcover book containing imagery, stories and interviews with each person involved in the project. All proceeds will go to Mere's charity of choice, Youth Off The Streets.
Youth Off The Streets is a non-denominational community organisation working for young people who are homeless, drug dependent and recovering from abuse.
They support these young people as they work to turn their lives around and overcome immense personal traumas such as neglect and physical, psychological and emotional abuse.
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