By Fashion Jeannie
Over the last few weeks, fashionistas in Singapore have been going through their wardrobes, generously donating their gently used designer wear to a good cause – Buy to Save – a sale event that will be held in mid December.
Buy to Save is a joint project between local luxury fashion retailer Club21 and UNIFEM (the United Nations Development Fund for Women). Nett proceeds of the sale will go to UNIFEM Singapore’s programmes to end violence against women through public education initiatives, empowerment and character-strengthening program for girls and direct funding to shelters and family centres.
As I write, the clothes are being sorted and tagged, ready for the sale to be held on weekend of Dec 12 and 13 at the Inter Continental Singapore hotel.
For a few select pieces, UNIFEM is holding a silent auction- the kimono Donna Karan shoulder contrast hip band day dress, for example, retails for $5399.
The opening bid for this (pictured left) is $1889 and you can send your bid to auctionbid@unifem-buytosave.com.
The rest of the designer wear will be sold at a fraction of their original price.
Last weekend, I traipsed to the Forum, the collection point of the first part of the programme, Give to Save where people dropped off their designer goodies, and volunteers were sorting and pricing them to be then resold to the public. There, I felt like I was in (affordable) designer heaven. Never had I ever seen SOOO many designer brands under such a small roof – Prada, Armani, Donna Karan, Hugo Boss, Miu Miu, Hussain Chalayan, Calvin Klein, Dries Van Noten, Botega Veneta, Dolce & Gabbana – who needs chocolate when you got fashion, baybeee!
To my great glee, Saleemah Ismail, the President of UNIFEM Singapore let me try on some choice outfits before they were carefully packed away (no doubt, away from people like me. I was so tempted to leave money at the counter, and make a mad dash for the exit with my favourite pieces. But then, I realised I would probably be caught for ’shoplifting’ and I don’t think anyone’s going to be selling any ‘free jeanne’ t-shirts)
On my measly salary, I can barely afford the lining of a Prada evening gown at full price, but with Buy To Save, I actually can… so guess where I’m going to be on the weekend of the 12th,
Best thing is, I’m chalking up karma points AND feel virtuous while shopping. How more guilt-free can one get from shopping?
From the groovini: By the way, MASTERCARD will be donating $2 to Unifem for every purchase if you use your Mastercard to buy. That’s so cool!
12 & 13 December 2009
Intercontinental Hotel Singapore
10am – 5pm
www.unifem-buytosave.com
