The event was conceived, organised and run by the final year Creative Direction and Styling students at Whitehouse Institute of Design. Initiating from a $0 budget, the event gained support from over 50 sponsorships such as Coopers, Porter's Paints, Ironlak, General Pants Co and the Glozeme Guy. With over 600 guests attending the evening, AWAKEN raised close to 25K for Australian Red Cross.