BLOG

Our volunteer profile feature returns, with another opportunity for you to meet and learn more about one of our volunteers. This time it's Zoe Rucker - one of our writer and researchers who joined us at the start of the year. If you're one of our social media followers or email subscribers, you're likely to have seen us sharing some of the articles that Zoe has written over the past few months, which includes: No Kit, No Game. How clothing poverty is excluding children from s

Part 2: Britain’s clothing poverty in a paradox of abundance without access   This article forms Part 2 of a two-part series on the Clothing’s Hidden Crisis , presented here alongside Clothing Consumption, Culture and Systems as a paired analysis.  It makes explicit the relationship between clothing as a condition of participation and the absence of a public voice when participation fails because clothing inadequacy has become the limiting factor.  Part A examines clothing a

Part 1: Britain’s Clothing Poverty in a Global Consumption Paradox This article forms Part 1 of a two-part series on Clothing’s Hidden Crisis , presented here alongside Clothing Consumption, Participation and Public Voice as a paired analysis.  It makes explicit the relationship between the cultural normalisation of high-volume clothing consumption and the systems that allow over-consumption and clothing poverty to coexist, without being recognised as connected conditions. 

What is ‘enough’ when it comes to clothing? The PSE UK Research Project1 identifies “three essential clothing items for adults: a warm, waterproof coat, two pairs of all-weather shoes, and appropriate clothes for job interviews.”

What this language does not capture is the condition as it is understood in deprivation-based approaches: a layered form of material inadequacy that develops over time through loss of adequacy across essential areas of life, rather than a single moment of collapse.

People being “in need of clothes” is a phrase that often passes without resistance. But what if we stopped to ask what that need actually consisted of?

Valentine’s Day has cemented itself as a key event in the commercial calendar.  The U.K. is expected to spend around £2.1 billion to celebrate February 14th [ 1 ], with a YouGov poll reporting that 5% of these expenses go towards clothing gifts [ 2 ]. This spending boom around Valentine’s Day is like a soulmate for fast fashion. The Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) describes how ‘fast’ business models have exploited the wholesome origins of Valentine’s Day “by selling us

Clothing poverty persists in the UK despite widespread surplus. This article examines how access infrastructure can exclude people with unseen disabilities. ________________________________________________________________________________ Clothing poverty as an access problem, not a supply issue When clothing poverty is discussed publicly, it is often framed as a problem of material availability: not enough coats, shoes or uniforms¹. Evidence from poverty and disability resear

We are pleased to announce that we have been selected as one of the causes that users of Nucha , an online marketplace with purpose, can help to raise valuable funds for us. What is Nucha? Nucha is an online platform that positions itself as supporting great causes at the centre of the 'resale revolution'. At it's core, it's a space for people to sell and buy clothing, shoes and accessories. It contains an expanding selection of second hand items for women, men and kids from

We are pleased to announce our fourth thrifter ambassador to join the team is Beth, AKA Betty's Style Stories (@ bettys.style.stories on Instagram). You can read more about Beth here, including what she loves about charity shops and what her most memorable purchase was. What got you interested in pre-loved/secondhand clothes? I have always bought from second hand shops, especially charity shops, since a teenager. I love hunting for bargains and helping a good cause. What do

This year there are two people running on behalf of Clothing Collective in the London Marathon and hoping to raise as much money as possible in the process. Here's a quick Q&A with one of the runners - Laura Scott - where she talks about things such as how she got into running, and why she chose to run for Clothing Collective. What is your name? Laura Scott Where do you live? I live in Putney, London. How long have you been running for? I’ve been running as a leisure activity

Our first 'partner profile' of 2026 is a Q&A with Max, Refugee and Asylum Seeker Project Coordinator for the International Community group at St James's Church Piccadilly. Describe your organisation We're a community group based at St James's Church Piccadilly in London, supporting people going through the asylum system and refugees. We're proud to be a welcoming space where people can find solidarity, especially for LGBTQ+ individuals from countries where it's unsafe or ill

I’d like to introduce you to the new ‘ Insights ’ section of Clothing Collective’s website, as we’re refining our online content to further our work. This section is a collection of articles that discuss clothing poverty and related topics, providing key information, facts and figures. Why have we launched this? As the current landscape of poverty in the UK is bleak, 14.4 million people live in poverty and 3.8 million people experience destitution [1] . Unfortunately, we ofte

Our 2025 Christmas Appeal has now closed for donations and we are pleased to announce that the monies raised will help four local charitable organisations to support around 120 people in need. The appeal, which was supported by the Charity Retail Association, aimed to raise funds to allow people who could not afford to buy clothing to be able to do so, to help keep themselves and their families warm this winter. The money raised, which was close to £2,500, has been turned int

We are pleased to announce a new partnership with LegacyHub, that launches today. This means that they will donate 10% of the subscription fee when you use this link .  Furthermore, you will receive a 10% discount across (regardless of whether you choose the monthly, annual or lifetime subscription).  And you can be safe in the knowledge that you are supporting your families after you have passed on.  What is Legacy Hub? Legacy Hub is an easy-to-use, secure digital vault des

Children in the UK are being pushed to the side lines of sport not because they lack talent or interest, but because they lack sportswear.

At one end of the market, households buy discounted fashion at unprecedented scale; at the other, millions cannot afford the essential clothing required for daily life. 

As 2025 draws to a close, we turn our attention to 2026, and what clothing poverty may look like in the new year.

2025 saw many developments around the issue of clothing poverty. While it is difficult to gauge the effect of these developments, given that their implementation is in its infancy, it is vital to consider how steps are being taken to address the material needs of those experiencing clothing poverty.   January The London Council of Tower Hamlets offers a universal school uniform payment, the first scheme of its kind. Households with an income of less than £50,350 will receive

Here at Clothing Collective we are approaching the next 12 months with the same determination to fulfil our mission of providing access to clothing for people in need in a sustainable way. And in doing so, we are aiming to help fight clothing poverty. With more people than ever experiencing clothing poverty - which means they cannot afford to buy clothing for themselves or their families - it's more important than ever that we all try to help in any way we can. Our model work