Five years ago, a glitzy charity fundraising gala in the British Museum organised by the model Naomi Campbell was commonly accepted to be a triumph. It was the toast of London fashion week and a powerful showcase for Campbell’s philanthropic mission to raise money for young people in poverty. Awash with celebrities (Naomie Harris, Pierce Brosnan, the rapper Skepta and Alexa Chung) and wealthy paying guests, it would combine a catwalk show with a charity auction of art (drawings by Matisse, Dalí and Tracey Emin, a signed Warhol print), jewellery and luxury watches.
The event was rapturously reviewed. “The best show of London fashion week, and all for a good cause,” said Grazia magazine. “Saving the world never looked so stylish,” .
Campbell : “It’s not just about looking good, it’s about being good and doing good.” Behind the scenes however, all was not so rosy. Even as Campbell was taking a bow on the British Museum catwalk, her charity Fashion For Relief was being pursued by unhappy charity partners, angry that they had been left out of pocket and threatening legal action to recover money they believed they were owed.
This week a revealed the scale of the chaotic management and financial misconduct at Fashion For Relief. Campbell was banned from being a charity trustee or taking a senior charity role for five years. Two other trustees, Bianka Hellmich and Veronica Chou, were banned for nine and four years.
The charity was wound up in December last year by.
