New clothing saved from waste by sewing charity

A clothing charity has helped save thousands of brand new coats, fleeces and other garments from going to landfill by removing company branding and donating them to people in need.

Dressability in Swindon said demand for its clothing rebranding project has grown rapidly, with more than 1,000 items now altered and distributed every year.

Initially the clothing was donated to organisations in Swindon and Wiltshire, but growing volumes mean items are now being sent as far away as Liverpool and Ukraine.

"We get a brand new coat for example that can be worth up to £100 and people in need, such as the homeless, can benefit," said general manager Sharon Tombs.

One charity that benefits is the Swindon Night Shelter.

Patrick Lewis volunteers there after using the shelter himself when he was homeless.

He remembers receiving one of the coats from the project.

"It was really nice," said Lewis.

"It kept me warm and dry during the winter period.

"I wasn't expecting something like that and I really needed it because when I was homeless I lost all my things, everything."

"It's been excellent having the coats," said Dawn Prosser, manager of the Swindon night shelter.

"When we show people and ask which size they need, they can't believe how good the coat is and we say that's what we want, to show you there's a way forward and to give you the best that we can really.

"It's gives people self esteem as well as keeping them warm and dry," she said.

Dressability mainly alters clothing for people with disabilities, but launched its rebranding project after receiving coats that would otherwise have gone to waste.

"We started the rebranding project after getting a delivery of coats from a company that ceased trading," said Tombs.

"I was concerned that we were throwing away brand new coats, so we sensitively patched and improved them, covering the branding, and the project went from there."

Once altered, the clothing is then donated to people in need.

"Plus it's about sustainability, because our work prevents these items from going to landfill," said Tombs.

One company that supplies garments is Osnic Embroidery in Weston-super-Mare, which produces clothing with bespoke logos for businesses.

But as Michael Osmond from the company explained, surplus stock is often left over.

"You've got spare garments because companies change their logos or they have discontinued items, sometimes a needle breaks in the machine and the logo is ruined and you can't sell it," he said.

"We have coats, fleeces, t-shirts, even shorts and trousers."

Instead of being thrown away, the items are sent to Dressability, where logos and branding are covered or removed before the clothes can be used again.

Dressability said it is now getting five calls a week from companies looking to donate clothing.

The charity is already distributing more than 1,000 items a year, with numbers continuing to rise.

To help meet growing demand, it is appealing for local sewing groups to volunteer their time and skills so more unwanted clothing can be given a second life rather than ending up in landfill.

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