Frock stars helping charity shop to fashion a trendy new image

MOST determined charity shop customers know that once in a while they may unearth a hidden gem among the less desirable cast-offs.

But those entering Yorkshire’s latest charity shop will be guaranteed the opportunity to leave with a purchase that has rather more kudos.

The Charity Chicks store not only has a swanky location at the Meadowhall shopping centre, Sheffield, but it also stocks items donated from the wardrobe of celebrities including fashion icon Twiggy, actresses Sienna Miller and Tamzin Outhwaite, television stars Lorraine Kelly and Fearne Cotton, along with Yorkshire-born designer Wayne Hemmingway.

Even the business plan for Charity Chicks, set up to provide income for South Yorkshire’s Safe@Last charity, is high-fashion.

The outlet is a so-called pop-up shop which opened yesterday and will trade for just six days before the shutters go down for the last time.

Safe@Last is a charity which provides support for runaway children, or those at risk of leaving home, and they have followed a similar formula twice before, opening shops for a few days in Dinnington, Rotherham.

When the second store attracted queues in the street, they knew the formula was a success and that was confirmed when the charity was approached by Meadowhall, offering the opportunity for this week’s event.

Most of the merchandise is made up from high-quality garments no longer wanted by friends and associates of Safe@Last, to create a “boutique” feel.

But this time Safe@Last called in their own favours, along with Meadowhall staff using their considerable contacts, to gain support from a wide range of celebrities.

Their donations will be available through the week, with different items going out on different days.

Some are for sale over the counter, but others are subject to a bidding process each day to ensure the charity maximises the potential benefit.

Wayne Hemmingway, the man behind the designer empire Red or Dead, is a supporter and offered one of his own shirts which is now for sale.

He was in Yorkshire yesterday and took the opportunity to cut the ribbon for the shop’s opening, before taking time to cast his own eye over the rails.

His own Red or Dead empire emerged from a business in vintage clothing and he still boasts a huge collection.

“I have always been a big champion of second hand or vintage clothing,” he said.

“I happened to be in Sheffield today and this fits in with my ethos, it is obviously for a fantastic cause.

“It is a great way to do this, with a shop that opens for just a short time.

“There has been some amazing stuff donated. It is sustainable and the money goes to a good cause. It is a win-win situation.

“I will be having a look around myself, but I won’t be buying my own shirt back,” he said.

The idea for the pop-up shops came from volunteer Jacqui Hawkins, 46, and she recruited others to help.

“We wanted a charity shop that we would shop in ourselves, more like a boutique,” she said.

“We decided we didn’t want a full time shop because that would be too big a commitment.

“When we had people queuing up, we knew we had hit on something really good,” she said.

Charity founder Hilary Massarella said: “Previously we have raised about 6,500, from shops which were open for three days and two and a half days.

“It has been fantastic and the Meadowhall shop has a new twist because we have the celebrities involved.

“Our volunteers have been fantastic with the enthusiasm they have shown to make this work so well,” she said.

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