New close knit collaboration for victims of sexual assault

Friday 22 April 2016

A local designer who's knitted and kitted out the likes of Talia Storm and Lady Leshurr with her hand-made beanie hats has a new collaboration all sewn up and is hoping to raise thousands for victims of sexual assault.

Lauren Burnett who runs clothing business Luella Rockerfella has teamed up with local law firm Le Gallais and Luce and the prison to make a new range of hats for Jersey Action Against Rape.

The sexual assault support charity that was set up by rape survivor Cassidy McIntosh is the law firm's chosen charity for this year and they were keen to work with Lauren and try and raise as much money as possible.

Lauren said: “I’m always keen to support a local charity. What you give out, you get back.

“I’m massively a spokesperson for women, anything that has females involved in it. I’m a bit of a Spice Girl, so anything that’s female driven, and about female empowerment, I’m behind.”

Lauren got in touch with the prison to see whether anyone there would be willing to run up a new range of hats and one of the female inmates - Dorota - was keen to get involved.

The beanies that come in three on-trend colours - plum, purple and heather-grey - cost £15 each and are going on sale at a big launch party this afternoon at Elmina Lifestyle Salon & Spa in King Street, where Lauren also sells her hand-picked vintage and designer range of clothes. All the proceeds from the hats will be going to JAAR.

(Picture credit: Danny Richardson)

Ben Newman from @rocksteadyjsy will be DJ'ing and getting the party started at the salon at 4 pm this afternoon.

Lauren said: "I think that Islanders should get behind a really worthy cause, JAAR has been inundated with people calling for support and this is all about helping financially and raising awareness."

You can reach Jersey Action Against Rape here.

Dorota, the prison inmate who made the hats, said that she was pleased to have the chance to help the charity.

Dorota said: “It is very important for the Jersey community to have a charity that supports victims of sexual abuse and their families, I can only imagine how hard it must be for anyone to go through such a traumatic experience.

"Initially I was unaware that I was completing this work for a charitable organisation with such an important cause, knowing that I am supporting JAAR gives me more enthusiasm and makes me proud that I can offer my support too.

"By completing this work I was able to learn new skills as before coming to Prison I didn’t know how to use a sewing machine.

"I also improved my English whilst completing this task, although I was shown what needs to be done and how to use sewing machine by the Prison education staff I had to refer to the manual book on numerous occasions and read the instructions. I am glad that I can use my time in Prison in a productive manner."

Prison Governor Ben Millar said: “I am always happy to consider projects that allow prisoners to make worthwhile contributions to the community against which they have offended. 

"Some are easier to facilitate than others and in this particular case I was very pleased to allow a prisoner to assist with a very worthwhile cause and she was more than happy to do so."