Barnardo’s Launches New Re-Fashion Hub in Sutton Coldfield

Barnardo’s Sutton Coldfield superstore has unveiled a new innovative Re-Fashion Hub.

Barnardo's opens 2nd Re-Fashion Hub located on Princess Alice Retail Park, Sutton Coldfield.

What is the Re-Fashion Hub?

It’s a fully equipped workshop where volunteers mend items with broken buttons and zips, wash out stains, and de-bobble fabrics to make them saleable again. More ambitious transformations take place too, ripped jeans are re-imagined as bags, aprons revamped as patchwork skirts, cushions reborn as cuddly toys, and other creative re-workings to give old clothes a new life.

How it was made possible

In a wonderful show of support, Singer donated six sewing machines, perfectly reflecting their commitment to ‘Sewstainability’. Miele also stepped in to help, contributing a commercial washing machine to tackle the more heavy-duty revival work.

Sustainability and Community at the Core

The Re-Fashion Hubs aim to help tackle the issue of unsaleable donations, roughly 6,000 tonnes per year, by repairing and repurposing them and even offering reclaimed haberdashery rather than sending to recyclers. They champion sustainability, helping to reduce waste and raising extra funds for children and families.

Visitors can browse the refreshed items, and budding makers can purchase reclaimed haberdashery to fuel their own creative projects.