A pair of Louis Vuitton shoes donated to Harrogate’s Oxfam shop have appeared in a national campaign to promote secondhand shopping.
Television presenter Miquita Oliver was tasked with giving her mum and grandma a charity shop makeover for an article in The Guardian.
Worn by her grandma, the shoes, priced at £225, are vintage size 7 blue mules from Louis Vuitton of Paris.
They are described as ‘quality leather with the LV embossed in leather’.
The newspaper feature promotes Secondhand September. Now in its fourth year, Oxfam’s annual campaign challenges shoppers to buy only secondhand clothes for a month. It is aimed at promoting sustainability as “fast fashion” continues to dominate the high street.
According to Oxfam, when a new pair of jeans is made, an estimated 16.2kg of CO2 is emitted – the equivalent of driving more than 58 miles in a car.
Thanks to Harrogate’s affluence, volunteers at the Harrogate charity shop, on Montpellier Parade, describe opening every box or bag as a bit like Christmas.
Online shop manager Frances Wood said:
“We get really excited when it’s worth a lot of money. That’s part of the joy of it. You open a bag and you don’t know what it’s going to be. You name it, we get it in here.”
Approximately £29 million is raised each year from selling clothes in Oxfam shops. Designer clothing is a major stream of revenue for the charity and also helps to support sustainability.
While you can find some of it on the shop rails, the more expensive items tend to go on Oxfam’s online store, which lists the location where the piece has been donated.
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The site currently includes a Prada dress, priced at £180, Christian Dior boots, which are £800, and a gold necklace, listed at £1,200 – all donated in Harrogate.
James Smith, Oxfam Harrogate’s bookshop manager, said:
“While we also have a lot in the shop, the prices you can get online are much higher. It’s a big money maker.”
James Smith with a Prada dress and Christian Dior boots, donated to Harrogate’s Oxfam shop.
And it doesn’t stop at clothing, with designer homeware and rare books also donated.
Mr Smith said:
“We get amazing things in here. We sold a designer purse for £1,000. Every week something goes on the website for hundreds of pounds.
“A couple of years ago we had a set of art journals from Paris from 1930, which went for £2,000.”
Oxfam Harrogate is looking for volunteers to help list items online. Call the shop on 01423 565497 or email [email protected] to get involved.