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Beating poverty with style. Oxfam opens new fashion boutiques

Oxfam launches its new fashion boutiques today, with spectacular one-off pieces created by seven of the country’s most influential young designers from Oxfam’s second-hand clothing and fabrics.

Oxfam’s boutiques, the first of which opens on Saturday in Westbourne Grove, London, have been created by Oxfam with the help of fashion guru Jane Shepherdson, and are set to create a new benchmark for sustainable fashion. They will provide shoppers with unique style, beautiful one-off clothes, and the assurance that every item will raise money to fight poverty around the world.

The seven reworked pieces unveiled today have been created by Giles Deacon, Henry Holland, Christopher Kane, Jonathan Saunders, Richard Sorger, Jens Laugesen and Stephen Jones from an array of Oxfam donated items ranging from evening gowns to duvet covers. They will be auctioned on ebay to raise money for Oxfam. The auction goes live on May 8 for 10 days.

Oxfam is opening three new boutiques in West London this summer – in Westbourne Grove, Shawfield St, Chelsea and Chiswick High Road - with morelikely to open across the UK in 2009. They will sell sustainable fashion in five categories:

 - Loved for Longer: High quality donated fashion.
 - Fair Trade Fashion: Fairtrade Foundation or IFAT fashion and accessories that connect consumers and producers. Labels include People Tree, Green Knickers, Casa Copenhagen and Wright and Teague.
 - Reinvented: Pieces donated to Oxfam and reworked by young designers including Defraye, Junk (Jumble) and London College of Fashion.
 - Made with Love: Accessories made by volunteers.
 - Good Fashion Sense: Clothes and accessories designed to make a difference - organic, recycled, made from alternative fibres or working toward Fair Trade accreditation. Labels include Junky Styling, Sea Salt and Amana

Jane Shepherdson, who has been a creative consultant on the project said: “These boutiques are all about creating a great shopping experience. Oxfam has always been a place where stylish people hunt for interesting items to create their look, the boutiques are set to make that even easier.”

Barbara Stocking, Chief Executive of Oxfam, said: “Our customers have told us they want a more contemporary shopping experience, and these new shops are set to turn the traditional concept of an Oxfam shop on its head. We’ve worked with some of the most respected names in fashion including Jane Shepherdson, David Downton, and London College of Fashion. Our boutiques will provide shoppers with beautiful clothes in a sophisticated environment– with the assurance that they are both sustainable and help Oxfam to tackle poverty.”

Ends

For further details contact:
Rob McNeil, Oxfam,
tel: 01865 472334,
mob: 07909 860370,
e:(view email address below)

Editor’s Notes:

A photocall will take place at Oxfam's new boutique at 245 WestbourneGrove, London W11 at 5pm on Wednesday May 7

The items created by Giles Deacon, Henry Holland, Christopher Kane, Jonathan Saunders, Richard Sorger, Jens Laugesen and Stephen Jones are one-offs to promote the launch and will be auctioned online – they will not be available in the shop. To find these items on ebay visit www.ebay.co.uk and search for “[name ofthe designer] for Oxfam.”

The Oxfam boutiques are at:

245 Westbourne Grove, London W1

1123a Shawfield Street (Kings Road) London SW3 (to open later this summer)

190 Chiswick High Road, London W4



Rob McNeil PR Manager Oxfam
tel 01865 472334
mob 07909 860370


Oxfam works with others to overcome poverty and suffering.

Oxfam GB is a member of Oxfam International, a company limited by guarantee and registered in England No. 612172.Registered office: Oxfam House, John Smith Drive, Cowley, Oxford, OX4 2JY.Registered charity No. 202918.


Contact Name: Rob McNeil
Role: PR Manager
Company: Oxfam
Contact Email: click to reveal e-mail
Contact Phone: 01865 472334
Company Website: http://www.oxfam.org

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fashion | oxfam | boutique | jane shepherdson | giles deacon | henry holland | christopher kane | jonathan saunders | richard sorger | jens laugesen | stephen jones | ebay | auction |

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