Fashion with purpose: ‘Tees for a Cure’ is back with an ambitious new goal

9 April 2025
By Fashion Quarterly

A group of iconic New Zealand designers have come together once again to support breast cancer research.

Trelise Cooper wears the Coop Crew Sweatshirt.

Breast Cancer Cure’s much-loved ‘Tees for a Cure’ campaign returns this April with its most ambitious vision yet — ‘3600 for a Cure’. For 2025, seventeen of Aotearoa’s leading fashion designers, including Karen Walker, Moochi, Kathryn Wilson, and Trelise Cooper, have each created a bespoke design to help raise funds for life-saving breast cancer research.

The number 3600 represents the sobering reality of annual breast cancer diagnoses in New Zealand — a figure that Breast Cancer Cure hopes to match in tee sales, with every purchase funding crucial local research.

From bold graphics to deeply personal illustrations, each piece is a wearable reminder of community, courage, and the power of early detection.

For Federation designer Jenny Joblin, this cause hits close to home. Her beautiful bow tee was created in honour of her mother, who lost her battle with breast cancer when Joblin was just 17 years old. 

“I was thinking about the word bow, and how rainbows are so special and bring the promise of peace and calm,” Joblin says. “Rainbows without the rain is just the bow, so I painted it as a little gift to wear and support Breast Cancer Cure.”

Helene Ravlich wears the Federation Short Sleeve Tee.
Kathryn Wilson Wears the Kathryn Wilson Short Sleeve Tee.
Biddie Cooksley wears the Tuesday Short Sleeve Tee.

Proceeds from the ‘Tees for a Cure’ campaign will directly support Breast Cancer Cure’s mission to fund innovative research in Aotearoa, with the potential to improve outcomes and save lives.

Breast Cancer Cure CEO Sonja de Mari if the target is met, it’s possible the charity could help to fund at least three new research projects.

“With nine new diagnoses every day, this disease affects our mothers, sisters, daughters, aunties and best friends – it also affects Kiwi men too,” Mari says. “We believe that research developed in New Zealand will lead to more precise prevention methods, earlier and more accurate diagnosis, tailored therapies and better equitable outcomes.”

Shop the collection now at breastcancercure.org.nz.

Share:

Sign up & Join
FQ Insider

Unlock exclusive content, behind-the-scenes insights, and special offers by becoming an FQ Insider.

Fashion Quarterly Winter 2023 Cover
Fashion Quarterly Winter 2023 Cover

Sign up & Join
FQ Insider

Unlock exclusive content, behind-the-scenes insights, and special offers by becoming an FQ Insider.

Don’t miss a thing. Sign up to FQ’s weekly newsletter.

*Ts&Cs apply.
Find out more at fq.co.nz/fq-newsletter