Winchester shop attends sustainable charity fashion show
This week, charity shop lovers gathered to attend the Charity Shop Chic Fashion Show, as a part of Secondhand September and Winchester Green Week. The catwalk show, organized by stylist Sarah Sullivan, raised money for charities including Naomi House & Jacksplace.
The event took place in the Brooks Shopping Centre in Winchester and started with a catwalk show featuring 24 outfits styled from pre-loved clothing and accessories. The catwalk showcased 6 fabulous outfits sourced from Naomi House & Jacksplace charity shops. The host of the evening and event organizer, Sarah, highlighted the ways that pre-loved fashion can be stylish while giving back to charities.
Sarah Sullivan, Event Organiser, said:
I loved putting all the outfits together. It is hard work but great fun! I hope that the event inspired people to shop pre-loved if they haven't before and see just what great stuff is available from their local charity shops. My top tips for charity shopping are trying on everything, checking the men's section for surprise finds and asking the staff if you are after something in particular. Don't forget your re-usable bag too!
Our wonderful Winchester retail team were present during the evening, with a pop-up stall featuring a special selection of pre-loved accessories and clothing to suit current fashion trends. The pop-up stall raised over £600 in funds to support the families in our care.
Nicci Simmonds, Winchester Shop Manager at Naomi House & Jacksplace, said:
The fashion show was fantastic! It was lovely to see the fabulous outfits from our charity shop come to life on the catwalk. The response we got from the guests was amazing too. Thanks to everyone's generosity we raised over £800 for the care of children, young adults and families who visit Naomi House & Jacksplace.
Event attendees were encouraged to shop sustainably through secondhand alternatives, as well as recycling and re-wearing clothing rather than purchasing new items. Guests enjoyed browsing through the pre-loved pop-up shop, and took home surprise goody bags while drawing inspiration from the catwalk to style their clothes in new ways.
Vicki Oliver, Marketing Manager at the Brooks Shopping Centre, said:
Yarrow Estates took over The Brooks Shopping Centre 18 months ago and it's aim is to put The Centre firmly back in to the heart of Winchester through it's involvement with community projects. We were delighted to host the Charity Fashion Show, as one of the main charities to benefit was Naomi House and Jacksplace. We follow your work and are constantly impressed by the big difference you make to families and hope that the funds raised will enable you to increase the great work you do, and that we can continue to work together in the future.
Thank you to Sarah Sullivan for organising yet another fantastic charity fashion show. Thank you to University of Winchester students, fabulous models and everyone else involved for your efforts in making the show come together so brilliantly. Thank you to The Brooks Shopping Centre for donating the venue for the evening.
Charity shops
Are you inspired by the pre-loved outfits on the catwalk? There are many stylish finds waiting for you in our charity shops, online and in-person. Click below to find the shop near you and help us be there for seriously ill children, young adults and their families when they need us most.