Oxfam the well known english charity shop (thrift shop, clothes donated) has a whole new look. The woman who turned Topshop into one of the best high-street stores, Jane Shepherdson, has taken over as Oxfam's Creative head. Key stores of the charity shops branches are being refitted to appeal to a whole chic'er market and will be packed with vintage designer finds, designer re-works of donated garments, ethically produced clothes and fair trade products. Companies such as People Tree, Poppy Valentine, Defray, Kitty Cooper and Wright & Teague will all contribute and be stocked in store. In general these stores will collect the best quality and designer vintage finds and collectively display them in select stores so that keen fashion buyers can find beautiful clothing easier. This all sounds great however the whole idea does not appeal to me at all. The clothes displayed in these stores will be increased incredibly to their original mark up (or down) at a usual charity shop. Yes they may be 'bargin prices' when compared to buying the original new from a designer boutique, but not for the possible bargins you could of scored before the take-over. Gone will be the days of surprise designer finds at under a tenner or finding the best areas (usually richer) in which to find treasures. It reminds me of the price up on vintage when it becomes fashionable now a new source of popularity is being used to cash on (fair be it a worthy caus this time).I understand it will benefit some people (with more money and less time) but for me the searching and sucess in value for money is what keeps me going back for more. I just hope that if the boutiques are a success they will raise much needed funds for a charity that needs it.
For those that are interested in the collaborations with designers: Christopher Kane, Richard Sorger, Henry Holland, Stephen Jones, Giles Deacon, Jens Laugesen. Go to Ebay:
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