Vinnies Finds First Birthday Party
Last Thursday evening, despite the pouring Sydney rain, friends, fashion lovers, and sustainability advocates gathered at Vinnies Finds headquarters in Stanmore to celebrate something worth getting a little wet for: one full year of Vinnies Finds giving pre-loved fashion a second life online while raising vital funds for the people who need it most.
Vinnies Finds, the online op-shop platform from Vinnies NSW, launched to make second-hand shopping accessible for people across the country. It combines fashion, reduces the amount of clothes in landfill, and social impact, with funds raised going directly to programs and services supporting people experiencing poverty and hardship across NSW.
A Night in the Warehouse
The night kicked off with guests mingling, chatting, and trawling through rack after rack of pre-loved pieces, from designer labels to vintage finds. Corporate-ready blazers sat alongside effortless going-out looks and holiday-ready outfits, each piece telling the story of where fashion meets purpose.
Many guests arrived in standout thrifted outfits, sparking conversations throughout the night. It quickly became clear that the community Vinnies Finds has built over the past year is just as vibrant and expressive as the curated collection on the warehouse floor.
Voices of Circular Fashion
A standout moment of the night was an engaging panel discussion on circular fashion, featuring leading voices across sustainability, social enterprise, and policy.
We heard from Phil Coyte, Executive Director of Commercial Enterprise, Retail and Fundraising at Vinnies NSW, Lottie Dalziel, Founder of Banish, and the Hon. Dr Sarah Kaine, Member of the NSW Legislative Council and Chair of the Standing Committee on Social Issues.
Together, they explored the intersections of environmental responsibility, community impact, and the real-world outcomes Vinnies Finds helps deliver. Their insights grounded the evening in both urgency and optimism, reminding guests of the broader purpose behind every purchase.
Runway Ready
The evening's grand finale was a fashion showcase featuring standout Vinnies Finds pieces.
Three talented stylists worked with members of the Vinnies NSW team to curate standout looks from the platform’s collection. The result was a runway of pre-loved fashion in motion from polished workwear, effortless evening looks, and versatile outfits for every moment in between.
It was a tangible reminder of what the platform exists to prove: that pre-loved fashion can be exceptional quality, beautifully styled, and appropriate for every chapter of your week. The hidden gems, as always, were hiding in plain sight.
Each guest left with a party bag in hand and, we suspect, a few new favourite pieces in mind.
One Year On
A year in, Vinnies Finds is only just getting started.
The platform has shown a strong appetite for curated second-hand fashion online and proven that pre-loved shopping can be just as seamless, exciting, and stylish as anything on the high street.
Vinnies Finds closed its first year with its strongest sales month yet, capping off a record-breaking May and building strong momentum into year two. The future is looking very well-dressed indeed.
To everyone who braved the rain to celebrate the birthday: thank you. To everyone who has shopped, shared, and supported Vinnies Finds over the past twelve months: thank you. And to those joining us for year two, we can’t wait to show you what’s next.