Second Chance Clothing Vox Pop

PreFab clothing is redesigning the way for charity shops in more ways than one

: PreFab

Shopping in charity shops is often associated with students and the elderly, but one group is trying to change all that. Set up by Cardiff YM CA Housing Association, the shop PreFab was created in an attempt to reduce the amount of old clothes sent to landfill.

Project manager Sian Rogers says the idea for PreFab came from a desire to ‘do something different with recycling and textiles and to appear less like a jumble sale’. So, inspired by charity shop rejuvenator Mary Portas, PreFab has a chic and retro feel.

PreFab is different to other charity shops as it takes in old clothes and redesigns them rather than just sell them on. It also gives everyone the opportunity to get involved by running workshops, with a Halloween workshop due to take place this weekend.

The Wicked workshops are taking place in PreFab from 12pm onwards this Saturday.

What do the people of Cardiff think about wearing redesigned clothes?

The questions put to the people of Cardiff were; what are your opinions of second hand clothing and charity shops? And, would you consider buying reconditioned clothing?

“From time to time I have bought second hand clothes and I have bought stuff from charity shops. I don’t have anything against buying second hand clothes but it’s not generally something that comes to mind when buying clothes. But something like that [PreFab] sounds quite attractive, certainly different and interesting and would definitely get me through the door. Whether I’d actually buy anything is another question.”

Matthew Richards 37, Welsh Government worker.

“I give lots to charity but don’t tend to buy from charity shops. If it was a bit more unique, some charity shops are like jumble sales and it’s a bit off putting. But yeah, if I knew it was going to a good cause and I knew it was a little bit different then yeah.”

Lisa 43, Welsh Government worker.

“I don’t really do it myself but starting to get into it as a student obviously, a lot of my friends buy second hand clothing. That would be a good idea, I give my clothing in and stuff, and I’d be more likely to do it if it was something like that.”

Victoria Whittemore 20, Law student.

“I used to wear a lot of second hand clothing as a teenager as I was into grunge, nothing against remodelled clothing but I probably wouldn’t wear it myself.”

Michael 32, Welsh Assembly worker.

“I use them, I don’t buy a lot of clothes but I’d go and have a look.”

Linda 50+, Retired.

“I do all the time, I come from Western and there is nothing but charity shops in Western so I get lot’s of stuff from there. Obviously haven’t come across anything like that before [PreFab] so probably would be interesting. I would say it would attract the younger generation more than my age group perhaps, us age groups tend to go for something more classic and tend perhaps shop in the department stores. But certainly for the younger people, as long as it’s fashionable.”

Sally 59, Medical Receptionist.

“They’re fine, they’re helping charity, people who haven’t got enough money as well. I would [shop there] if I was hard on money. I’d go in and have a look to see if there was anything to catch my eye.”

Andrew 22, Security.

“Nothing wrong with charity shops, would do it myself and have done in the past but not for a while, cleanliness puts me off. Prefab sounds good, I like that. Haven’t got time to try it myself.”

Aaron 33, Sales Supervisor.

“Don’t mind second hand clothing, but depends if they smell and depends where the clothes were originally from. I’d consider buying reconditioned clothes as long as they looked better.”

Sophie Mace 22, Sales Advisor.

Charity Shops, second hand