Charity shopping and upcycling Queen, Hannah Elliman is the last in our series for Repair Week 2022, but boy is it a good one. Check out the below easy, how-to video and see Hannah transform some old shirts in a bucket hat. Yes you heard right, a bucket hat. The perfect addition to your summer wardrobe.
Tag: Repair
Crochet Love.

Hello everyone! My name is Stevie and today I wanted to share a little bit about how I got into crocheting my own clothing and how charity shopping ties in with that! I’m a huge fan of shopping pre-loved and have been buying from charity shops for years but recently, I’ve got more and more into up-cycling, DIY projects and making my own clothing – crochet being my main craft of choice!
Read More »DIY Dreamcatcher
Some crafty ideas to keep you busy during isolation.
The super talented Chloe created the dreamcather with materials she picked up in a charity shop and we are obsessed. It’s really therapeutic to make and perfect to change up any room. Why not give it a try.
Embroidery Upcycle for Barnardo’s
Hi, I’m Laura from www.thriftylondoner.com, where I talk all things money saving- including lots of reviews of the best charity shops in London, with regular up-cycles and repairs that you can follow along with on Instagram @thriftylondoner.
Barnardo’s stores always feature high on my list as affordable, well organised places to find unique pre-loved clothing. One of my favourite Barnardo’s stores in London is in Brixton, but the store that has a special place in my heart is the dedicated Barnardo’s vintage store in Cheadle (you can follow them on Instagram @barnardos_vintage). If you live in Manchester or you are ever visiting- it’s a must-visit!
Fall Back In Love With Your Wardrobe
Calling all fashionistas!
For those working from home it doesn’t mean wearing pyjamas all day (although a day here and there is definitely a treat!). No more pandemic sweat pants or lockdown lounge suits, it’s time to rediscover your wardrobe!
Why not riffle through your wardrobe, and re-discover those hidden gems. Whether this is through restyling, re-wearing, repairing or up-cycling, it’s time to fall in love with your wardrobe. Be sure to share your re-loved looks with us over on Instagram and tag us using #ReLovedWardrobe. We can’t wait to see what you put together.
Having a clear out? Be sure to pop those items to one side and donate them once our stores re-open. Somebody else will love those “not so you pieces”.
Want to share your top Barnardo’s looks with us and feature on The-Thrift? Comment below and we’ll get in touch!
Caring For Your Clothes
Hi everyone!
My name is Camilla, and I have been kindly invited to guest blog on The-Thrift to talk about a subject I am very passionate about: maintaining and prolonging the life of clothes. Essentially, making them last as long as possible!
This is such an important topic and I feel that most of the time people might give up on a perfectly fine garment. They may be unaware that they can mend them, think repairs are too difficult or simply don’t have the time.
Today I want to show you three simple steps you can take in order to extend the life of your clothes. I hope you will find this useful!
Making your knitwear look brand new
One of the main issues I find when charity shopping is bobbling fabric. Once an item bobbles, people don’t know how to restore their knit to its former glory. You might want to consider investing in a fabric shave. Acquiring one of these was the best decision I ever made clothes-wise: it changed my life! A little dramatic perhaps, but it made me aware of how people wear clothes and expect them to look new without any maintenance.
My Up-cycling Challenge
I was asked by Barnardo’s to join in with Recycle Week by up-cycling an item of clothing surprisingly sent to me, I automatically thought, WHAT A FUN CHALLENGE!
As an avid repairs and up-cycling seamstress with my brand, Soul and Flare, I was excited to receive my parcel. I opened up the box and to my delight there was an indigo wash, women’s denim shirt by Uniqlo. HURRAH!