Green Goddess High Tea

The 9^th annual Mum’s Mail Green Goddess High Tea in association with The Sunflower Fund was held on Friday, 5 September at the Hellenic Hall in Durban North. The event was a great success and a highlight of Durban’s social calendar. 

Photo: Jane Linley-Thomas, Karen Monk-Klijnstra, Alice Leah & Stephanie Berry

Guests went all out for the Green Goddess theme, wearing either the colour green or recycled/upcycled outfits. They were encouraged to think outside the box and create a ‘green’ outfit using recyclable materials such as paper, plastic, tins, bottles and cardboard. Many went to a great deal of trouble to make recycled dresses and there were some spectacular outfits on the day.

On arrival, guests were treated to sparkling wine and cappuccinos, ice cream and the chance to be pampered with a luxurious foot massage. There were pop-up shops for retail therapy, as well as raffle tickets and surprise envelopes on sale.

Guests enjoyed a tasty breakfast (served in a recyclable plastic bottle and cardboard boxes with wooden cutlery) and other yummy treats, as well as tea, coffee and other complimentary drinks. MC Jane Linley-Thomas kept the guests entertained, as did guest speakers Lynelle Harrison from Esse Organic Skincare, who enlightened guests about organic skincare, and Rosanne Griffin from Mpact Recycling, who spoke about the impact of not recycling.

Great fun was had choosing the best dressed guest and best dressed table of 10, and drawing the two raffle winners. The main raffle prizes were valued at over R20 000 each.

There was a silent auction on three dresses, designed and donated by three local designers: Karen Monk-Klijnstra, Kathrin Kidger and Bianca Warren. 

Each guest was treated to not one, but two awesome goodie bags to take home with them, filled with useful products, as well as a bottle of wine on leaving.

Proceeds from the 9th Annual Mum’s Mail Green Goddess High Tea went to the Sunflower Fund and a record amount of over R138 000 was donated which will be used to give hope to patients diagnosed with life-threatening blood disorders and in need of a bone marrow stem cell transplant.

A big thank you to sponsors Baby City, IBV International Vaults, La Lucia Mall, Sanlam, MC Jane Linley-Thomas, Lemontree Concepts, Esse Organic Skincare, Gifts2Go, Nan West Photography, Steph Stein Photography, Topjocks, Wired Media, Distell, Posh Party, Buds in a Ro, the Bedouin Tent co, fashion designers Bianca Warren, Karen Monk-Klijnstra and Kathrin Kidger and speaker Rosanne Griffin (Mpact Recycling) for making the morning possible and for being prepared to ‘Share a Little, Save a Life’.

For more information on The Sunflower Fund or on how to become a bone marrow stem cell donor, please call toll free 0800 12 10 82 or visit www.sunflowerfund.org.za.