The basic job of a pretty summer dress is more or less as follows: to make you look like your most effortless, breezy, totally babin’ self. Suffice it to say, when a dress (or two!) goes above and beyond this, we’re paying serious attention.

Byron Bay-based Spell & The Gypsy Collective co-founders and sisters, Isabella Pennefather and Elizabeth Abegg, have announced the release of two pretty pink new limited edition dresses (both available online now) in collaboration with Australian charity Bravehearts, which works to prevent child sexual assault.

Designed in two perfect for spring styles – one, a mini wrap-around dress and the other a midi-length slip – the timeless, pretty pieces have been carefully planned by the Spell duo. “We wanted to create a limited edition story for our Spell x Bravehearts collaboration and thought a soft and feminine variation of the Bravehearts brand colour [pink] would work best.”

Spell Byron Bay x Bravehearts Blue Skies Slip Dress
Blue Skies Slip Dress on location in Madeira, Portugal Credit: Instagram @spell_byronbay

Every purchase of these two exclusive Blue Skies pieces will see 10 percent donated to the charity, which Spell has sponsored since 2016. While there are only two designs in this exclusive release, the charitable impact has been truly impressive.

“To date we [Spell] have raised over $40,000 and we hope this week’s collaboration will take that total to $65,000,” says Abegg.

Mini Wrap Dress Spell Byron Bay for Bravehearts
The Blue Skies Wrap Mini Dress from the Spell x Bravehearts collaboration Credit: Instagram @spell_byronbay 

The charity was chosen by their mother whom Abegg asked to “help me find an Australian charity that truly contributes to the protection of children in our society.” Abegg also revealed the personal nature of the brand’s sponsorship of the charity. “As mothers, Isabella and I are both passionate about keeping all children safe from sexual assault. But we are also daughters of a sexual assault survivor which means it’s an issue that is particularly close to our hearts.”

It follows that Bravehearts instantly “felt like the right choice” for the sisters. When the dresses are this pretty and the cause so good, it goes without saying what the ‘right choice’ is for the rest of us too.

SUPPORT SERVICES:

BRAVEHEARTS Counselling and support for survivors of child sexual abuse: 1800 272 831

BLUE KNOT FOUNDATION Support for adult survivors of childhood trauma: 1300 657 380

LIFELINE 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention: 13 11 14

KIDS HELPLINE Free counselling for young people aged 5-25: 1800 551 800