M&S announces ‘One Day Wardrobe Clearout’

Marks & Spencer (M&S) today announced its first

ever ‘One Day Wardrobe Clearout’ to raise £1 million for Oxfam and to help reduce the amount of clothing sent to landfill.

Tomorrow, the successful M&S and Oxfam Clothes Exchange will be reversed and customers will be encouraged to donate unused and unwanted clothing to M&S stores. Customers donating M&S labelled clothing will receive a £5 money-off voucher to use in store.

A study commissioned by M&S reveals that Brits could benefit from a wardrobe clear-out ahead of the Autumn/Winter season as 92 per cent admit they hold on to clothing they never wear. The study also revealed that the average British wardrobe contains an item purchased in 1996 with one in ten admitting they still own clothes bought in the 1970s.

The M&S and Oxfam Clothes Exchange encourages customers to recycle clothes they no longer wear. Customers who donate an item of M&S labelled clothing to an Oxfam store receive a voucher for £5 off against purchases over £35 on clothing, homeware or beauty products in M&S. Since launching in 2008, the Exchange has raised over £3 million for Oxfam.

The initiative is part of M&S’ involvement in HRH Prince of Wales’ START campaign, created to help consumers lead a more sustainable lifestyle.