Clothes sale and auction for Calais refugees

Two Brighton charities are joining forces to put on a Fashion for Action event the Brighton Dome, raising cash for refugees.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Nov 2017, 10:51 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 05:25 BST
Fashion for Action event (Credit: Sarah Ketelaars/www.sarahketelaars.com)Fashion for Action event (Credit: Sarah Ketelaars/www.sarahketelaars.com)
Fashion for Action event (Credit: Sarah Ketelaars/www.sarahketelaars.com)

The event on will feature one-off ‘Choose Love’ T-shirts designed by Katharine Hamnett, signed by celebrities including Carlos Acosta, Stephen Fry, Katherine Ryan, Father John Misty and Michael Kiwanuka.

As well as the sale and auction of designer and high-end women’s clothes from PreLoved of Brighton, there will be afternoon tea from Fanny's of Hanover and live music.

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All the money raised will go to provide warm clothes and other items to refugees sleeping rough in Northern France to help them get through the winter.

The charities said since the refugee camp in Calais was dismantled in 2016 there are hundreds of individuals and families sleeping rough.

Rowena Gerrett from Calais Action Brighton said: “The people I’ve met while volunteering are just like me and you, except they come from a war-torn country or failed state and are now just struggling to survive.

“In September I met a teacher and his wife and two young children. They had fled the violence in Iraq more than two years ago but are now trapped in Northern France and in real danger of freezing to death this winter. Warm clothes and blankets really are the difference between life and death for them and so many others.”

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Organisers said the event is not just for ‘fashionistas’. Fashion for Action will also include afternoon tea and cake and an auction of surprise items donated by local businesses.

Aidan Pettitt from Calais Action Brighton said: “We are incredibly excited about this event. The refugee situation often just feels so helpless and it’s easy to think that there’s nothing any of us can do. But for a small amount you can have a great afternoon with friends and family, pick up some top quality bargains for your wardrobe and go home feeling proud that you’ve done something to help some of the world’s most vulnerable people.”

Fashion for Action is taking place on Saturday, November 25, from 3.30pm to 5.30pm at the Brighton Dome.

Tickets are £6 for adults and include free afternoon tea and cake. Children go free.

For tickets, click here.

Related topics:FashionBrightonBrighton Dome