UK’s leading second-hand marketplace – Thrift+ have partnered with charity – CHOOSE LOVE to launch an emergency Afghanistan appeal. Supporting refugees fleeing the crisis, Thrift+ have opened ‘Second Life Store‘ – a pop up e-store selling donated clothing and footwear items. All products found within the store have been donated from individuals who’ve ordered and returned a ‘Thrift+ Bag’. In addition to all the altruistic work Thrift+ are doing, they will further donate £5 per item sold, proving how simple and inexcusable it is to help those in need. All profits will be going towards Afghan-led charities providing vital services including: clothes, food and shelter for refugees, and supporting organisations protecting women’s and children’s rights.
Second Life Store spans a spectrum of womenswear and menswear, with prices ranging from affordable to high-end. You can find noteworthy brands and designers within the collection, such as: Helmut Lang, Prada, & Other Stories, Roberto Cavalli, Balenciaga, Zara, Frame and many more.
Having recently been crowned Marie Claire‘s ‘UK’s Best Fashion Re-Commerce‘, Thrift+ have diverted 350,000+ clothing items since 2017 that would have otherwise accumulated in landfills. Processing over 30,000 garments per month, the second-hand marketplace has up to 100,000 items available to buy, at any given time. With the growing awareness around sustainability and the impact our fashion footprint leaves in the world, this achievement is nothing less that applaudable. Thrift+ partners with reputable retailers such as French Connection, FarFetch and Hush under a ‘Customer Takeback Scheme‘, where said retailers set aside returned products and old stock donating it to Thrift+ to then sell on their website and app.
“Watching the crisis unfold has been heartbreaking, and we hope this store will make a meaningful contribution towards CHOOSE LOVE’s critical work to support the people of Afghanistan,” Founder of Thrift+ – Joe Metcalfe in a press release regarding the refugee crisis.
CHOOSE LOVE‘s emergency Afghanistan relief has already garnered public interest, with the renowned charity partnering with video-sharing platform – Cameo. Celebrities have promoted the campaign in a 30 second flash video urging followers to support the cause. Some of the high profilers involved are: Aimee Lou Wood, Jameela Jamil, Bimini Bon-Boulash, Olivia Colman and Bastille.
So how can you get involved? Thrift+ are offering two different ways to contribute towards this philanthropic initiative: firstly, you can shop the collection where all profits go towards the relief fund. Secondly, you can order a biodegradable, reusuable Thrift+ bag in which you would fill it with your old and unwanted clothing items and footwear (please ensure they are washed and in good, wearable condition) and return for free.
The industry is changing. We are more socially responsible than ever before, especially in the way that we shop. Sustainability is at the forefront of our minds, with the growing climate change causing global anxiety. Thrifting is becoming a favourable alternative to fast fashion and Thrift+ are giving you an extra option; Joe Metcalfe and co-founder – Poppy Beer “aim to give second-hand clothing a second-life“. What better reason to empower an independent businesses than for non-profit.
Words by charIs crawford corri – fashion Director
Disclaimer- all images used within this article have been sourced from Thrift+ and CHOOSE LOVE‘s official websites and social media accounts. Ragged Culture Publishing Ltd. does not own the copyright to the images within this article. All rights reserved.