By Pablo Donas and Johanne Wang Corneliussen
Shopping in London is more than just an expedition to Oxford Street. Hidden in the streets of North London, charity shops have emerged as an affordable alternative to purchase both high street and designer clothes.
Buying items from charity shops not only helps fill your wardrobe with unique and affordable items, but the money raised from the purchase goes to charitable causes.
Volunteers has emerged all over the capital to help the stores run smoothly. And volunteering in a charity shop has become a coveted experience to gain.
In Angel, Fara Charity Shop is one of the emerging stores, with plenty of items and brands at very affordable prices.
Sarah, 33, has been working as a paid manager for the last four years, and says that she decided that she didn’t want to work for big corporations anymore, but do something that actually feels rewarding.
Volunteering as a charity retailer is however not as easy as it seems like, “Lots of people think it’s drinking tea, and waiting for customers to come in; it’s not. It is often very messy, and you have to dress comfortably, rather than fashionably, but I really enjoy it all,” said Sarah, who could not reveal her surname.
As wearing second hand clothe is becoming a fashionable practice amongst young people, charities see how their audience is growing day by day.
“Through the evolution of vintage shopping becoming popular, I have seen a big rise in the popularity of buying second hand and thinking that charity shops are a cool place to shop. When I was young, you would be mocked if you bought second hand,” Sarah added.
Sarah states that a lot more women than men shop in charity shops, and is actively encouraging guys to change that. “We get a lot of expensive and tailored, branded suits donated, so men should really up their game and take use of the big stock we can offer,” she said.
A short five-minute walk from Fara, Marys Living and Giving blends in with the boutique area of Upper Street. It offers a selection of branded yet affordable items. With prices as low as £9 you can find bargains from designers such as as Vetements, Versace or Diane von Furstenberg.
Jemima and Sophie are volunteers in the Save the Children Charity shop, and both agree that it is a very rewarding job as they know that the money raised go to good causes, recently the children of Yemen.
“Seeing that I had extra time on my hands, and really loved the environment in Mary’s Living and Giving, I decided to start volunteering here once a week. I really love it here, mostly because the social contact with the customers is so great. You truly meet so many incredible people, who come here to find hidden treasures,” said Jemima, 48, a part-time illustrator.
Sophie, a 59-year-old woman who moved from Paris to London six years ago, had always wanted to volunteer but did not find the timing right until 2017. “I have worked in fashion for over 20 years, selling brands, but think that fashion as a corporate business has changed too much, and the environment has become too rough.
“A year ago, I decided to quit my job, and start volunteering twice a week, and it has been such an enriching experience.
“Before I started to volunteer, I had never bought anything second hand, but after starting to work here, I learned that you can find a lot of nice stuff, both used and unused, so my style has become a lot more influenced by shopping here.”
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