The rise of charity shops and sustainable fashion

Charity shops have seen a surge in popularity.

Whether it’s because of environmentalism, the romanticisation of vintage clothing or people wanting to buy unique finds – the shift in attitude around second hand shopping has dramatically changed the perception of charity shops.

What was once seen as a necessity to find cheap goods, the shops are now the place to be for savvy shoppers. What was once called ‘second-hand’ we now say is ‘pre-loved’.

At Julian House, our charity shops raise money to fund projects across our services.

The rise of the charity shop

The circular nature of charity shopping presents itself as an ethical and easy alternative to fast fashion and throwaway culture, providing a direct and positive benefit for people across the UK. 

Buying pre-loved at charity shops has allowed people to save money while indulging in retail therapy.

This has been exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis has resulting in customers are reevaluating where money is spent.

‘Over the past few years we have seen customer levels increase as more people become environmentally aware of the impact that fast fashion has on our planet. Shopping in your local charity shop is a great way of sourcing some amazing and unique clothes to suit your individual lifestyle and tastes whilst keeping within a budget – its a win win.’ Gemma Turner, Head of Retail at Julian House.

Charity shops have always been a driving force behind the circular fashion movement as they have remained on high streets. With 9,000 shops across the UK,  these shops are an accessible way for customers when it comes to both decluttering wardrobes and filling them back up.

The future of charity shopping

‘We will keep trying to raise funds for our amazing charity whilst offering great customer service and a chance to source great quality clothes at a fraction of the high street cost. We are opening two new stores this year so really excited to introduce Julian House to a new audience.’ Gemma Turner, Head of Retail at Julian House.

With the surge in second-hand fashion gaining popularity across all ages, it has attracted the attention of more competition. With circular fashion apps allowing consumers to make money from their products this has meant that charity shops such as Julian House have seen a decrease in the quality of donations.

‘We are always happy to receive good quality items which we can sell in our shops. Because it is a second hand trade we do rely on the quality of donations which can be difficult to constantly provide. When the quality of the clothes drops it does make it harder for us to shift this stock.’ Gemma Turner, Head of Retail at Julian House.

With charity shops a remaining presence on the high street the future looks bright for charity shops and the resulting lesser impact on our environment.