On This Day: Charity opens pre-loved fashion shop in Welwyn

Always Loved by Isabel Hospice opened its doors with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by the charity's chair of trustees, Terry Philpott, alongside the mayor of Welwyn Hatfield, Pankit Shah.

At the time, Charlotte Greenwood, head of retail and marketing at Isabel Hospice, said: "We had such a great turn out on what was a very hot and humid evening.

"It was great to see the shop really come to life and have it bustling with people already making their pre-loved purchases."

The boutique launch was described as a "real labour of love" and marked the first opening for the charity since COVID-19, with the last being in 2019.

Lookback - Always Loved opened in High Street, Welwyn (Image: Isabel Hospice)

Always Loved is part of Isabel Hospice's initiative to move away from the traditional charity shop model.

Charlotte added: "There has been a noticeable shift towards shopping second hand, reflecting a change in consumer mindset towards sustainable fashion.

"It's wonderful to see shoppers becoming more conscious of the environmental impact of fast fashion.

"Whilst not forgetting, every purchase made in an Isabel Hospice shop raises vital funds for the palliative care the hospice provides to those in the local community."

In order to keep Always Loved fully stocked, Isabel Hospice called for community support in donations, while also relying heavily on volunteers to assist with the running of their shops.

[From the Welwyn Hatfield Times of September 15, 2023]