St Vincent de Paul Society Australia genetic logo

<p>The St Vincent de Paul Society offers over 200 services that help people in need.</p>

Safeguarding

Find Help

Membership NSW

Volunteering NSW

Careers NSW

Join the Social Justice Network

Vinnies Service Medallion

Vinnies Youth NSW

Donations of goods and services NSW

Gifts in Wills

Philanthropy

Fundraise for Vinnies NSW

Clothing drives, toy collections and food hampers

Corporate partnerships NSW

Financial donations NSW

Sponsorship NSW

Cause related marketing campaigns NSW

Workplace giving - community support NSW

Vinnies and the Return and Earn Scheme

Vinnies Bag O Rags

Vinnies re/CYCLE range

Vinnies Used Cooking Oil Recycling (VUCOR)

Get involved

Get Involved

<h1>Vinnies Shops</h1>
<p>Everything you buy or donate inspires change in your local community.</p>

Vinnies Shops

Shops

Social Justice Statements

Reports and Submissions

Modern Anti-Slavery Statements

Reconciliation Action Plan

Uluru Statement Resources

Energy NSW

Disability Inclusion Action Plan

Advocacy

About us

Contact Us

History NSW

NSW Strategic Plan

Leadership NSW

Policies NSW

Mission and Formation

About Us

News and stories

NSW Media Releases

Vision Magazine

Impact Magazine

NSW Blog

Your Kind of Good Magazine

NSW Disaster Reports

NSW Annual Reports

News and Stories

| Vinnies

Home

ACT & surrounds

New South Wales

Northern Territory

Queensland

South Australia

Tasmania

Victoria

Western Australia

National Council

SVdP Housing Australia

Take the Vinnies #prelovedpledge to help both people and the planet

<p>At Australian Fashion Week this year, talented stylist Paul Versace of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/styledbybloom_/">Styled by Bloom</a> chose to adorn high profile influencers in simple-yet-glam outfits paired with sophisticated accessories, all sourced from a retail store that you may never have expected to contribute to runway looks… the garments being modelled at red carpet events were actually <a href="https://www.news.com.au/afx_prid/2024.5.21.1/auth/ptc/?scope=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&amp;afx_auth=9zc1Y6FggYxK/Ub2qpsHYmXzynvKrp08835oG0mGPYhMOLPtXEMOIjANsR8tNGDDwhmA3FQMgjlRreUr9kAGe0au5bSsXRuTT4Y4xvJ/Pu/rO7Xd+R0vuNtJ4LbGW/Ai">purchased second-hand from Vinnies</a>.</p>
<p>In the fashion world, this <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/jan/23/australia-fashion-recycled-wardrobe-reduce-carbon-footprint-tips-advice">small but impactful movement</a> is gaining traction. The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters globally, and the fashion gurus who set the trends know that something needs to be done about this problem. A few celebrity Australians (such as <a href="https://www.broadsheet.com.au/sydney/entertainment/article/my-sydney-alone-australias-gina-chick-kayaking-thrifting-and-going-barefoot-red-carpet">Gina Chick</a>, winner of Alone Australia Season 1) have made it public knowledge that they shop for clothing second-hand, which is pushing more and more people to join the pre-loved movement.</p>
<p>As <a href="https://www.worldenvironmentday.global/">World Environment Day</a> comes around, it would be wise for us all to consider our shopping habits and consider whether we actually need to purchase new clothing, when there is so much that has already been made. Vinnies saw 3.2 million kilograms of donated textiles pass through our distribution centres in NSW last financial year, which shows that massive amounts of discarded fashion items are en route to op shops around the state.</p>

Rich Text

Boxes of clothing at a Vinnies Distribution Centre

Image

<h3>We’re asking Australians to adopt a Vinnies #prelovedpledge.</h3>
<p>The pledge is a challenge to forgo new garments, and instead to shop only for pre-loved treasures for a set amount of time.</p>
<p>Will a Vinnies #prelovedpledge truly make a difference? Absolutely. Beyond the obvious financial savings, second-hand fashion offers substantial environmental and charitable benefits. By choosing pre-loved over new, we can reduce our carbon footprint as well as fund essential services for those in need.</p>
<p>So if you’re ready to update your wardrobe in a feel good way that will help people and the planet, we dare you to dive headfirst into a Vinnies #prelovedpledge and make a tangible impact, one purchase at a time.</p>

<h3>What is the Vinnies #prelovedpledge?</h3>
<p>This pledge is a commitment to purchase only pre-loved clothing for a set period, which should be as long as you think you can manage it. A month? A year? Until Christmas? Choose a date and make it known to your family and friends that you won’t be buying any new clothing until then!</p>

<h3>Will a #prelovedpledge really make an impact?</h3>
<p>On top of reducing the number of dollars that are leaving your wallet (hello, savings!), second-hand fashion has a number of environmental and charitable benefits that you might be surprised to learn about.</p>

<h4>Environmental impact:</h4>
<p>As we mentioned on <a href="https://www.vinnies.org.au/nsw/articles/here-s-why-you-should-be-shopping-second-hand-this-earth-day">Earth Day</a> this year, buying clothing pre-loved instead of new is better for the planet. The environmental impact of a #prelovedpledge can be significant - use the <a href="https://www.charitablerecycling.org.au/reusecalculator/">Charitable Recycling Australia ReuseCalculator</a> to find out just how much CO2 is saved. If you pledge for a month and get two tees, a jumper, some shorts and a pair of jeans at Vinnies stores, you’d be saving approximately 67 kg of CO2 emissions… that’s the equivalent of 34 trees absorbing CO2 in a day!</p>

<h4>Charitable impact:<b><br /></b></h4>
<p>When you purchase clothing through Vinnies, you are helping to raise funds for charity. Last financial year, Vinnies sold 3.9 million pieces of clothing and our shops raised more than $78 million to fund the work of St Vincent de Paul Society NSW.</p>
<p>This money that is raised through sales allows us to operate vital services and programs in the community. That could mean helping people experiencing homelessness, assisting those who are escaping domestic and family violence, or tending to families who are struggling to put food on the table.</p>
<p>Every time you make a purchase at Vinnies, you can feel good knowing that the money goes towards helping people in need.</p>
<p>If you buy something in a Vinnies shop…</p>

Can help provide a meal in our services like the Vinnies Vans so vulnerable people don’t go to bed hungry.

Can help provide a night of accommodation to someone experiencing homelessness.

Can help provide essentials like clothing for someone escaping domestic and family violence.

Can help someone put petrol in their car so they can go to work and pay their rent or household bills.

Cards

<h3>How to update your wardrobe during a Vinnies #prelovedpledge<strongr></strongr></h3>
<p>Updating your wardrobe during a Vinnies #prelovedpledge doesn’t have to be daunting. Here are a few ideas on how you could acquire a flashy new outfit for a friend’s birthday party or repurpose an old pair of ripped jeans for another few months of wear:</p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Browse the fashion racks at Vinnies stores! Find your local shop <a href="https://www.vinnies.org.au/nsw/shops">here</a>.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Host a clothing swap with your peers, or attend a swap event in your local area.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Upcycle an old garment into something new, such as transforming jeans into cut-offs or turning a button-up shirt into a cute crop top. You don’t even need sewing skills (though these will obviously come in handy) to get started with upcycling - experiment with a pair of sharp scissors, safety pins, fabric glue, iron-on patches or decorative ribbon when sprucing up an old garment.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Research the art of clothing repair, including visible mending.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Share your Vinnies #prelovedpledge</h3>
<p>Your pledge participation not only promotes your own sustainability efforts, but can also inspire others to join the cause. Show us how you’re doing by using the <b>#prelovedpledge</b> hashtag and tag <b><strong>@vinniesnsw</strong></b> in your social media posts. Here are some ideas on what to post about:</p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Explainer video: Why am I taking the Vinnies #prelovedpledge?</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Follow along on a visit to my local @VinniesNSW shop during my #prelovedpledge</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Progress report: How’s my Vinnies #prelovedpledge going so far?</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">How much money have I saved on clothes during my Vinnies #prelovedpledge?</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">My favourite finds from the Vinnies #prelovedpledge</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Revealed: The environmental impact of my #prelovedpledge (use the <a href="https://www.charitablerecycling.org.au/reusecalculator/">Charitable Recycling Australia ReuseCalculator</a>)</li>
</ul>

<p>Take the first step in your #prelovedpledge journey.</p>

Find your local Vinnies shop

Finder

Take the Vinnies #prelovedpledge to help both people and the planet

$20

$57

$72

$110

Find your local Vinnies shop