Rocking Angels

Photographer Ike Eichensehr brings a little bit of Eden to HK with orphanage fund-raiser

Byline: P. Ramakrishnan

Temperatures soared as models wearing devilish angel-wings welcomed guests to the Angels for Orphans auction on Friday night.

At the event, Hong Kong-based American photographer Ike Eichensehr launched his second book, Eden, a veritable who's who of Asian fashion and cinema in various states of undress. All proceeds from book sales went to the charity Angels for Orphans.

"A lot of the models I've worked with over the past decades have been involved in some way with Angels for Orphans," said Eichensehr. "It's been a fantastic night. Over US$30,000 was raised."

"I've known Helen Whitman for years, and knowing that all of the money goes to a great cause made the night more meaningful," he said, referring to the head of Angels for Orphans in Hong Kong.

Five large prints of Eichensehr's work were also sold.

The book, HK$800 each, includes passages by shoe designer Jimmy Choo, stylist Kim Robinson, businessman Allan Zeman, actress Michele Reis Lee Ka-yan and Steve Leung, architect and interior designer. They wrote about what 'Eden' means to them.

Despite the presence of the crème de la crème of the city (including artist Simon Birch and model Rosemary Vandenbroucke), all eyes were on supermodel Cara Grogan, resplendent in a billowing green gown.

Proving that with great beauty comes great purpose, Grogan was the emcee for the evening. She has also worked for the charity.

"I spent two months working in an orphanage," she said before the evening started. "Every bit of money raised goes straight to the children and, believe me, from my personal experience volunteering at an orphanage, these children need our help. They changed my life forever, help us change theirs."

Eden is available in all noted bookstores starting today.

Learn more about Angels for Orphans here.