The free pop-up clothing store serving the homeless is making a return to the streets of Green Point and Braamfontein.
South Africa (01 April 2025) — On 12 April, free pop-up clothing shops in Green Point and Braamfontein will make a comeback to clothe the homeless, offering people who largely go without the privilege that is choice, a moment to make decisions and clothe themselves in new threads and dignity.
The Power of the Pop-Up
The Street Store initiative began over a decade ago and was conceptualised at M&C Saatchi. Then, it was but a humble idea that hoped to offer a little more dignity to the destitute through preloved items. Today, it is the world’s first rent-free, premises-free pop-up store and a massive movement that’s travelled all over the world. To date, it boasts over 1,100 stores built in different cities and has clothed over 1 million people!
How it Works
People donate preloved clothes which then become ‘stock’. Some retailers even reserve racks for donations. Thereafter, people in need can shop for the items (at no cost) on pop-up days and have some fun in choosing what they’d love to own while reestablishing a sense of dignity that can wane due to life on the streets.
Unlike handouts, initiatives like this encourage decision-making and the sense of self that comes with that. Beyond the socio-positive impact, the initiative also contributes to the circular economy, redirecting clothes from landfills.
Efforts like extending the lifespan of clothes are essential in a world where the fashion industry is responsible for over a billion tons of greenhouse gases just last year.
The Transformative Power of Fashion
Nival Maharaj, Street Store spokesperson at The Up&Up Group, says that running a Street Store unleashes the transformative power of fashion.
“Consider this: a preloved, but now unworn item of clothing packed in the back of a cupboard could become a job interview or matric dance fit for someone else. The possibilities are endless.”
The Green Point (Haven Night Shelter) and Braamfontein (Salvation Army) pop-ups are on the hunt for preloved items. Those who’d like to do a little Autumn cleaning and some good can drop off clothes in good condition at the Up&Up Group’s campuses in Cape Town and Johannesburg until April 11, and you can find out more details here.
Sources: Supplied
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