Shwop 'til you drop
Ab Fab actress Joanna Lumley has joined Marks & Spencer to launch their new Shwopping campaign.
A new M&S initiative aims to revolutionise the way we shop for clothes. The high street brand has launched a new eco-friendly campaign to encourage shopper’s to live more sustainable lifestyles by dropping an unwanted piece of clothing every time they buy a new one. They can do this through the 1,200 Shwop Drops which are being rolled out across UK M&S stores from today. The clothes will then be resold, reused or recycled by Oxfam and the money raised will go to help people living in poverty.
Talking about front the Shwopping campaign Joanna Lumley said: “I'm really excited to be working with M&S and have long admired Plan A. Their latest initiative, Shwopping, is all about getting customers to recycle unwanted clothes every time they shop at M&S. It's a big, bold campaign and a first for the high street.
“We're asking people to open their hearts, their minds and their wardrobes. Remember we used to just throw away plastic bottles. Now we recycle them without even thinking about it. We need to do the same with clothing. Bring in something old; buy something new. Swap and shop. It's that simple.”
If you want to get involved you can find out more at www.marksandspencer.com/shwopping
The fashion houses are taking the p**s. One of the supermarket chains in the UK tried to sell Levis' at cost plus 10% and Levis took them to court for selling them too cheap and thereby allegedly undermining the Levi brand. So, who's the idiot? Joe public for paying through the nose or the fashion producer for ripping off joe public.
Ask the manufacturers to publish the real cost of making a pair of jeans and they will refuse because if they did they would never be able to sell another pair at the hugely inflated price that is charged now. If you are stupid enough to pay way over the top prices for any item of clothes on you go but the money would be better donated directly to charity which is where these 'shwop' items are going.
Oh yes. Don't you just love the majors with their pseudo concerns for the environment, ethical purchasing and those less fortunate than ourselves? Then take a look on the back of some of the stationary and cards purchased in M & S . Made in China, and they're not the only ones at it, mind.
You wanna buy labels? Then buy your stuff from the charity Triaid, they've brand new Timberland end of season lines and loads of others, ridiculously cheap. Or try Therapy, London (not a charity) London. Ralph Lauren shirts £30.00 quid each. Levi's £30 quid a pair. Stacks of brand new stuff at rock bottom prices!
I donate to a charity privately, and am a strapped for cash consumer, like most people nowadays, and I have to say I resent giving my hard earned to any of the majors, using their ploys trying to touch me conscience. So I don't. Got to go...off to Lidl!
So hunt around,
They're deals to be found!
Go well and be lucky.
Kevin.
Sarah HecksSarah started her career in journalism over 10 years ago and has since worked for names such as GQ.com and Maxim. She is currently MSN Her's fashion editor in the UK.
Zoe ZahraZoe started her writing career eight years ago and has worked for publications such as Tatler and Wallpaper. She is currently deputy editor of MSN Her UK.
Rebecca BryantRebecca graduated with an MA from the London College of Fashion and has since worked for Haymarket and Orange.co.uk. She is currently MSN's shopping editor in the UK.
