A Sheffield company has supported over 3000 people by supplying them with various pieces of clothing in an effort to tackle clothing poverty.
Sharewear was set up over seven years ago in Nottingham with a storage warehouse for its stock and a van for deliveries.
Following their opening in Sheffield City Centre, Emily Hearne, 28, who is the centre supervisor at Sharewear Sheffield, said: “It has been crazy to be honest.
“I didn’t quite know what to expect in terms of uptake and people wanting to use the service but it has been really busy which I think on one hand is brilliant but on the other hand just shows how many people need clothing and how little support they have had up until now.
“We want to get the message out that clothing poverty does exist and it’s not just rough sleepers.”
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Those who have been referred by referral agencies normally go to the storage units and pick clothes themselves however, due to the pandemic, Sharewear are now operating a click and collect service, though they hope to be able to reopen as restrictions are lifted.
With people currently spending more time at home and tidying their houses, Miss Hearne feels this has led to more people donating clothes they no longer wear which has been both a benefit and a hindrance.
She added: “People have been incredibly generous and we’ve got loads of stuff. However, that’s meant that now when we open up to the public again we have got quite a lot to do with quite little time to make it look presentable.”
Sharewear’s statistics from the month of February
Sharewear are currently at maximum capacity although they say that there are some clothes that rarely get donated that they are still looking for.
These include mens trousers in waist size 28, 30 and 32, teenage boy and young adult clothes, plain black ladies leggings, joggers or activewear, brand new pants and culturally specific minority communities clothing.
You can contact Sharewear at 07450 835761, on their website or through their Facebook page.