A full house, two nights of runway magic, and rescue dogs stealing every heart in the room, the Hill’s & TEARS Re-Loved Fashion Show at Simon’s, Groot Constantia in Cape Town has wrapped with an extraordinary R250 000 raised for TEARS Animal Rescue. However, the real measure of success might just be the life-changing stories that emerged behind the scenes.
One of the most touching moments came from the event’s own fashion show manager, Devon Anderson, who unexpectedly found his new family member while researching TEARS ahead of the show. Scrolling through the organisation’s adoption page for design inspiration, he spotted a small, bottle-fed puppy named Levi and instantly knew he was meant to be theirs.
“I sent the picture to my partner and said: ‘I think this is our puppy,’” says Anderson. “We’d always wanted two dogs, and when I saw him, I just knew. We went through the adoption process, met him in Kommetjie, and fell in love immediately. He came home with us that same day, and we renamed him Zeus, strong and powerful, just like he deserves to be.”
He reflects that the adoption would never have happened had it not been for the Hill’s and TEARS collaboration. “Zeus is part of our family now because of this event. It’s an amazing thing to come out of something we worked so hard to put together.”
Stories like this echo the true purpose of the Re-Loved Fashion Show, an event that pairs sustainable fashion with life-changing impact for pets in need.
“We are absolutely thrilled with the generosity shown over the two nights,” says Jackie Quail from Hill’s Pet Nutrition. “Every cent raised helps TEARS continue their incredible work, and seeing a dog like Zeus find his forever home reminds us exactly why this partnership matters. This show isn’t about fashion alone, it’s about giving rescue pets a second chance.”
Across the two evenings, Cape Town’s top designers transformed thrifted garments from the TEARS Thrift Shop into couture-ready creations, while TEARS rescue dogs, each one adoptable, charmed the audience alongside the models. Funds were raised through auctions on selected designer looks, Hill’s pet food, and donations that directly support TEARS’ critical services, from sterilisations and vaccinations to nutritious food, collars, leads and treatments.
Hosted by comedian and radio personality Angel Campey, the event brought together purpose, creativity, and compassion, proving once again that fashion can be both beautiful and deeply meaningful.
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