DARLINGHURST: A Sydney company is providing vulnerable people with free new clothes and replicating the retail experience for them.
Thread Together sources new and excess clothing from fashion retailers, and partners with social service agencies and registered charities to help identify the clothing needs of people in the community.
Started in 2012 by Andie Halas, a former shareholder of Seafolly who has a background in fashion and marketing, Thread Together believes that clothing is the forgotten basic human right.
Chief executive officer Anthony Chesler said access to clothing can help people restart or rebuild their lives.
“People who are in need can look for food security and shelter, and often go without what it is on their backs as a result of taking care of the other two forms of basic needs,” he said.
“We think that by providing people with not only clothing but brand new clothing, and in doing so provide them with choice, goes a significant way in helping them to start the road to recovery, irrespective of their circumstances.”
All clothing sourced by Thread Together is new.
“We always talk about those that have the luxury of choosing what they wear. We’re looking to replicate that feeling because we know what it’s like to wear a new pair of jeans, clean underwear and new t-shirt,” Mr Chesler said.
Thread Together provides clothing via an online portal and physical stores called clothing hubs.
People can order and select clothing with gift cards, which have no value but act as identifiers to indicate which agency or charity a person came from.
“When they come into that store, they’re coming in a dignified way. They’re not coming saying they have a voucher or a referral to use your service; they’re simply saying ‘I’m coming in with a gift card to use your service’,” Mr Chesler said.
Mobile vehicles with walk-in wardrobes are also sent into vulnerable communities. This service visited Newtown Neighbourhood Centre twice in the last few months to deliver clothes and shoes to regular clients.
Thread Together also recently helped a man who had been homeless for seven years and had not bought an item of clothing for 20 years.
He expressed his gratitude in a text message.
“Your kindness has today allowed me to walk out of my front door with dignity,” the message said.
“And as every first impression counts, a chance not to be immediately perceived by the public as human excrement, as I have been every day for more than seven years.”
Thread Together opened a new permanent clothing hub on Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, in September, and will move some operations into a bigger warehouse in Banksmeadow in November.
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www.threadtogether.org
