Check out what we’re doing to promote conscious fashion this month and beyond…
Shelter shops are on a mission once again to encourage more people to discover the joys of shopping second-hand and extending the life of clothes this Sustainable September. Not only does this mean helping the environment, but also finding stylish looks and, in doing so, supporting Shelter in the fight for home. New government figures show the number of children homeless in temporary accommodation has hit a shameful new record of 151,000.
Charity retail and specifically second-hand shopping could be seen as the original slow fashion model, and we’re no newcomer to promoting upcycling and the circular economy. The permanent furniture upcycling workshop above our Erdington shop restores donations that would otherwise be sent to landfill. And over the past few years we’ve worked with a range of textile upcyclers, designers and makers to promote sustainable fashion choices of repairing, reusing and reimagining old pieces.
We’re also a signatory of the WRAP Textiles 2030 initiative, which aims to accelerate the progress towards a circular textile economy and engage people to buy, use and dispose of clothing and textile products in ways which reduce climate impact and resource use.
If you’re looking to get a more sustainable wardrobe, check out our advice, or join us at one of our sustainable events throughout this month and beyond…
- From September... we’re starting to trial the use of new Shelter patches to repair clothes. We’ll be covering small holes and blemishes to give items a unique look and an activist spirit. Keep an eye on our Instagram to see what happens. You can also message us if you would like a patch for your repairs.
- On the 6th to 8th September, we popped up at the Goodwood Revival festival. Turning back the clock and celebrating all things vintage, this was a great opportunity to revive some beautiful clothes and accessories from the past and give them a new lease of life in a new wardrobe.
- Next up on 28th September, Shelter shops will be taking part in Sustainable Fashion Week’s Brighton hub hosted by Brighton Fashion Collective. We’ll be at the sustainable popup market as well as strutting our stuff on the "Rewear" runway, with second-hand looks curated from our Brighton shop.
- We’ll have a pitch amongst our other charity retail friends at the Charity Super.mkt section of the Classic Car Boot Sale, at Kings Cross on the weekend of the 28th & 29th September. Come along to discover vintage fashions, enjoy street food stalls and music and, of course, classic cars.
The slow and sustainable fashion events don’t stop when September ends. We’ve got more planned into October too…
- We're bringing slow fashion to commuters at Network Rail stations in October. The pop ups have received lots of positive feedback over the last few years, and they’re back again. You can catch us on 1st to 3rd October in Victoria and 22nd to 24th October in London Bridge.
- It’s not just shopping preloved that makes a difference to the circular economy. If you’ve grown out of old favourites or they’re just no longer your style, we need your donations to fill our shelves and find a new home. We’ll be collecting preloved donations at the Clean & Tidy Home Show at the Excel in London on 19th & 20th October, where you can also find fashion and furniture upcycling inspiration and sustainable styling.
- On 26th & 27th October, join us at the Gipsy Hill Brewing Company for Taproom Thrift. Grab a drink and browse through a wide selection of our specially priced end-of-line preloved clothing, accessories, and more; all priced between £1 and £5. You can also visit our Repair and Reimagine workshop stand for upcycling and restyling inspiration and creative demos.
Find your nearest shop, and follow us on Instagram for more about upcoming events.