8 minute read
A World of Opportunity
Op Shops
A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY
Your local op shop offers far more than a way for you to find a bargain or that one-of-a-kind treasure. These play an integral part in diverting unwanted clothing, furniture, and bric-a-brac from landfills while at the same time raising money, allowing them to continue to support those worthy projects.
The NZ Salvation Army estimates approximately 16,000 tonnes of waste are saved from landfill per year through their family stores alone.
Here are a couple of great op shops in our region you might want to check out.
Lions Shed Cambridge – a real spectacle What started in the 60s as an annual auction in the town square grew into a shed. The Lions Shed at Cambridge is an op shop like no other! It holds treasures from eras gone by and unexpected finds that will have your home, closet, garden or shed happy that you visited. All proceeds from donations fund worthy projects—one such example is the upgrade of the Cambridge pool: Cambridge Lions Club contributed $100k, much of it raised through The Lions Shed. The Lions Shed even accepts your old prescription spectacles which presently
Lions Shed Cambridge
are tested by an optometrist before going to the Pacific Islands. They also take some electrical items, which are tested and tagged by certified volunteers before selling.
Hospice Waikato With its network of Hospice Shops throughout the region, Hospice Waikato provides a number of options for those wanting to reuse. Hospice Claudelands has a couple of very cool initiatives. Looking for a specific book? The team do ‘a book request’ and will pop your request on their board and keep a look out for it.
The Stella Rack Stella Neems, who has been a Hospice volunteer for two years, created the Stella Rack. With her eye for what’s cool, Stella chooses from the best donations for the Stella Rack, encouraging young people to buy second-hand clothing. “At first I didn’t think much about the sustainability part of it,” says Stella, “but now that is one of the main reasons I invest my time into Hospice. I think it’s so important to shop second-hand because, at the end of the day, the fashion industry is the second biggest polluter in the world.” Want to see just how cool things from the op shop can be? Follow hospiceshopwaikato on Instagram.
For Frock Sake At the back of the Ngaruawahia Community House is a small pop-up container shop ‘For Frock Sake’. For Frock Sake was born a few years ago when the Community House kept receiving donations of used clothing. Their first project was to support those needing to dress for interviews or needing appropriate clothes for new jobs. Now, For Frock Sake’s main business is women’s clothing and shoes, in collaboration with the Community House. It also offers ceramic ware for events which can be rented out for a fraction of the cost of buying new or using single use items. So next time you have a party, consider renting out your crockery, think reuse and supporting a good cause. Once a year, For Frock Sake puts a call out for the best frock and suit donations suitable for high school graduations. Students from the local high school come and choose a dress or suit, so there's no need to buy new when the perfect dress has been sitting in someone else’s closet. For Frock Sake
Take the challenge and buy only second-hand items for a year; it’s a great way to appreciate the amazing work charitable stores really do.
Buy quality - If you must buy new, buy quality goods. It should last longer and if it finds its way to a charity store it will still have value.
Before You Donate...
All too often, charitable stores find themselves sorting through items which are well beyond their use by date. If items are not saleable then stores have to pay to dump them, taking money away from their worthy causes.
CHECK WITH THE STORE FIRST Not all stores accept all donations.
QUALITY IS KEY If you can’t wear it, sleep on it, eat off it, then neither can someone else.
IF IT’S BEEN IN STORAGE, GIVE IT A WASH Op shops can’t sell items if they are soiled, stained, broken or smell.
NO MATTER HOW GOOD YOUR DONATION IS, DON’T DROP IT OFF IF THE SHOP IS CLOSED. If it’s really good, it will be gone by morning and your donation has not supported the cause.
Sometimes items that are not donatable to your local op shop, like that chipped plate or bent fork, may still have another purpose. Try advertising things you can’t donate on a local Facebook or Neighbourly page. Even items not accepted at your local charity store might be an artist’s treasure.
Every second a garbage truck full (2,625kgs) of clothes is sent to landfill or burned.
THE FEISTY LADIES Fighting Fast Fashion
WORDS VICKI RAVLICH-HORAN IMAGES ASHLEE DECAIRES
Breathing new life into old is something the ladies at Feisty Needle do without even thinking. They can take that dress you once loved but now lingers in the back of your wardrobe and breathe new life into it. Perhaps it no longer fits, or maybe it’s a bit dated or you possibly want something completely new from the fabric—a skirt or top perchance? Deb, Denise and Ruth are skilled seamstresses who love reusing. They reuse old patterns time and time again, patterns they know work for real women’s bodies, patterns that accentuate and flatter all the right places. They can also reuse fabric. A quick rummage in their own wardrobes and Ruth has a dress and jacket she made from old jeans.
Did you know? Globally, we consume about 80 billion new pieces of clothing every year, a 400% increase in just two decades. Paradoxically, the average UK shopper (and we can assume New Zealanders are not much different) only wears 70 per cent of what’s in their wardrobe and throws out 70 kilograms of textile waste every year. There is a solution. Buy quality not quantity – Invest in pieces that will stand the test of time. This, Deb says, means finding pieces that suit your body, timeless pieces that always make you feel good. Her Bridget Bonnar range is just that. One-off garments that flatter, they have sleeves and often pockets. They’ve been made with you in mind with the goal that this will be something you will wear often and for years. Re purpose – You can transform pieces from your own wardrobe or those you find from the op shop. Look for great fabrics you can breathe new life into.
Feisty Needle, 534 River Road, Fairfield, Hamilton www.feistyneedle.co.nz
HAMILTON HAIR SALON serves up something special
WORDS KATE MONAHAN-RIDDELL | IMAGES ASHLEE DECAIRES
A visit to Mousey Brown Hair Salon is a special experience, just like visiting old friends. It’s there from the moment you walk in the door—the relaxed and friendly vibe, the modern, eclectic décor and the warm greeting you get from husband-wife duo Paul and Sarah Fitch, who opened their North Hamilton salon in April 2018. Between them, the Fitches have worked in hairdressing for more than 30 years. They combine experience with a passion for people. Like any top salon, they are experts in hair cutting, colouring and treatments. Paul excels at creative colour work, including balayage— where colour highlights gradually sweep up the hair, giving an elegant, sun-kissed look. Sarah, who began her hair design career at 17, says that Mousey Brown is different to other salons, serving up bespoke, personalised service with a side order of honesty and humour. “We are easy and relaxed here, and we take the time to really listen to what customers want. You can trust that we will do an excellent job with your hair, but you’ll have a good time too.” Their manta is ‘real hair, real people’. “That means we are not going to recommend a hairstyle that you will struggle with [at home] or try to upsell you expensive products you don’t need.” Five years ago Paul and Sarah launched Mousey Brown in Raglan. However, when an opportunity came up to move into a new development at Greenhill Park, they relocated their salon to Hamilton. “We love it,” says Paul. “It’s a great location here. We are right on the Hamilton Ring Road, on the Gordonton Road and Wairere Drive roundabout, which is really convenient for our customers, with free parking. And we are next to some great eateries, including Volare and The Wayward Pigeon.” There are unique, personal touches everywhere in the salon, designed to make customers feel at home. The retro sofa features 70s-style cushions from Paul’s childhood home and there is a beloved lamp that was a wedding present by the plant wall. Paul’s creative eye is also behind Mousey Brown’s unique décor—he designed and built its large wall shelves from old wooden pallets, waxing and oiling them by hand. He also upcycled an old science file cabinet to become a stylish side table.
Paul and Sarah, who have three young children (Björn, 11, Greta, 9 and Minka, 8), enjoy working together and the freedom that enables them to balance work and family life. Sarah says she enjoys interacting with clients, many who have become friends. “We have people who have followed us from previous salons, and over time we get to know them and what’s going on in their lives. A client will tell their sister or mother-in-law or friend about us, and we end up getting the whole family coming, which is really special. We love meeting new people and welcoming them to the Mousey Brown family.” Last winter Shania Stewart joined the salon as its new apprentice, and her bubbly presence has been the perfect addition to the team. “I enjoy the environment and the relationships we have here,” says Shania. “At Mousey Brown, we really listen to clients and they get what they want, not what the stylist thinks they need.” Mousey Brown Hair Salon 2B Gordonton Road, Huntington, Hamilton. www.mouseybrown.co.nz 07 855 3573
