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Who we are
We are Worthwhile Wardrobe, a charity occasionwear rental platform from The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice. We offer affordable rental of preloved womenswear for parties, proms, weddings, and any occasion where you need a one-off, showstopper outfit without the commitment to buy.
Worthwhile Wardrobe is the first-ever charity circular retail model focused on clothing rental. Born out of a research collaboration between The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice (PPWH) and Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow. The research project focused on clothing sustainability and circularity.
Only 30-50% of items donated to charity end up getting sold in charity retail stores; much will go to recyclers and may be turned into industrial cleaning materials or shipped to other markets, where we have a limited understanding of garment end-of-life. Rather than this more linear approach, we are introducing a model where clothing will circulate within PPWH retail beyond a once-only sale, keeping clothing in use for longer.
The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice
All proceeds from Worthwhile Wardrobe rentals go to support the work of The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice. PPWH relies on the generosity of supporters to keep the doors open. By renting from Worthwhile Wardrobe, you can help raise the funds required to provide services to patients with life-limiting illness and their families.
Clothing donations
At Worthwhile Wardrobe, we want to rethink charity donation, increase clothing use and longevity, and increase the circularity of the charity sector and its donors. Supported by ACS Clothing, a business leader in clothing sustainability, Worthwhile Wardrobe is powered by your donations of high-quality, lightly worn occasion wear pieces. Each donation will be treated with respect. Each item will be assessed for suitability, and the rental collection will be curated with care for our website. ACS Clothing is supporting us with repair and cleaning to ensure that the item is ready for a new life. If the item is not suitable for the rental collection, we will maximise the opportunity to sell via our retail stores.
Worthwhile Stories
As part of the project, we are keen to trace the items on their journey and accumulate stories from them as they are rented out. Throughout the Worthwhile Wardrobe site, you will see the stories attached to garments so you can understand the previous life and adventures the garment you are renting has had. We’d love you to add to the Worthwhile Story Making process. If you have a story you would like to share about your donation or after your rental, please contact Olga Cieslak, PhD researcher: [email protected].