W
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WIRRAL LIFE CATCH UP WITH
FASHIONISTA NICOLA GLEAVE
So Nicola, since we last spoke, what have you been up to?
In June this year I’ve launched the Refashion Guide. In essence I
have re-branded WornByUs because I wanted to expand the scope
of the business and allow for retailers and fashion brands to get
involved.
The ReFashion Guide is an online resale shop that sells luxury and
designer clothing, shoes, accessories and jewellery which have
been donated by retailers and celebrities. A proportion of the resale
price is also donated to charity.
Why did you want to appeal to retailers?
Over the past six months, the media have been really focusing on
the impact of fast fashion on the environment and its really made
me think about the fashion/retail industry.
Britons binned clothes with an estimated value of £25 billion over
the last two years and during the same period, over 600,000 tonnes
of used clothing was sent to landfill in the UK. Environmental
experts are predicting that UK landfill sites will be full by 2023 so
it’s easy to see that there is a real problem ahead.
We know there are increasing pressures on retailers to tackle this
issue, and while we’re not claiming to be able to solve the issue
completely – we believe this is a really good step in the right
direction.
Retailers can send us their surplus stock and we will post it online
and sell it. We’ll also agree that a percentage of each sale will then be
donated to a charity of their choice – a really great extra incentive
to get involved as it’s a great demonstration of our commitment
to CSR.
How have you been able to set all this up?
My partner Andy has joined the team and he is overseeing all the
operations. We’ve also welcomed, Lee McAteer, a very well-known
and respected businessman and entrepreneur, to the team. Lee
is the co-founder of the Invasion Camp Group and director at
Tranmere Rovers Football Club.
The Invasion Camp Group has an extensive network around
the world and works on a wide variety of projects to help local
environments and communities. We’re now able to utilise this
network to help raise awareness and encourage retailers from
across the globe to donate their surplus stock, as well as encourage
consumers to buy from the ReFashion Guide website.
The three of us have worked really hard together to re-focus the
business, re-brand it and then launch it so that we can reach this
point and start telling everyone about it.
What support have you received so far?
We’ve always been really lucky to have such amazing support –
even back when we launched WornByUs. We’ve been blown away
by the generosity of some amazing brands including Beaverbrooks
and the Leather Satchel Company who have sent us some amazing
jewellery and bags. It’s well worth visiting the website just to see
them!
How can people get involved?
People can check out the website - www.refashionguide.com- now
and see our collection of items for sale.
If people want to donate items to us – send an email to info@
refashionguide.com.
Keep an eye on social media as well as we will be posting items
for sale and updates regularly - Twitter @RefashionGuide and
Instagram www.instagram.com/RefashionGuide
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