Fashion designer Jeff Banks today is calling on the nation to join the Great British Clothes Clearout and donate unwanted clothes to raise £2m for the NSPCC.
Jeff Banks cleared out his own warehouse for the launch, donating over 1,000 garments from his many design collections.
The NSPCC aims to collect more than five million bags of second hand clothing by 2012 in partnership with clothing collection agent Clothes Aid.
Jeff Banks said: “I think clothes are there to be worn, not be hidden away in your wardrobe! So I want everyone to join the NSPCC’s Great British Clothes Clearout to help prevent cruelty to children.
“Everyone has a few fashion horrors hidden away at home. For me it’s my suits. The ones from the 80s are probably back in fashion! So I’m having my own Clothes Clearout for the NSPCC – I hope everyone will join me and cast off those terrifying textiles!”
Donations of good quality used clothing can be made through convenient house to house collections. Donators should look out for NSPCC branded bags posted in their letterboxes with a printed Clothes Aid collection date.
Businesses and other organisations can also request a one-stop collection service from Clothes Aid for donations of 200 bags or more – raising even more money for the NSPCC. Clothes Aid has guaranteed to raise a minimum of £525,000 in the year of its partnership with the NSPCC.
NSPCC head of corporate partnerships Tracy Griffin said: “We know many people find it hard to give financially during this challenging economic climate. So giving unwanted clothes, shoes, or other textiles is a great alternative way for people to support the NSPCC.”
“Join in the NSPCC Great British Clothes Clearout and start the new decade with only the clothes you love to wear in your wardrobe!”
Around two million tonnes of textiles are purchased in the UK every year, of which 60 percent ends up as waste. Clothes Aid extends lifespan of garments by diverting them from landfill to be sold in fashion-hungry European accession countries.
The NSPCC relies on the generosity of the general public for more than 85 percent of the funds it needs to raise each year. All the money raised through the Clothes Aid partnership will go towards the NSPCC’s vital work in helping to end cruelty to children.
More information is available at www.nspcc.org.uk/greatbritishclothesclearout
More information about Clothes Aid and arranging a one stop bespoke collection at www.clothesaid.co.uk
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The NSPCC is the UK’s leading children charity specialising in child protection and the prevention of cruelty to children. The NSPCC’s vision is to end cruelty to children FULL STOP. www.nspcc.org.uk
Clothes Aid is one of the UK’s leading licensed clothing collection agents, conducting collections of used clothing to raise money for its partner charities.
Adrian Brown NSPCC media office on 0207 825 2516. Out of hours mobile 07976 206 625.
Contact Rebecca Feiner at the Clothes Aid press office on 0207 288 8539 or email rfeiner@clothesaid.co.uk.
