Over lockdown we were proud to support the brilliant Smart Works Edinburgh, thanks to your purchases we were able to donate to them when they needed it most. We are picking up where we left off and encouraging you to donate your no longer wanted (but still in good nick!) interview appropriate pieces to the charity and help get women back into work.

Smart Works Edinburgh provides interview clothing and coaching to unemployed women, allowing them to feel their best for their job interview. They offer a full outfit of clothing ahead of an interview, and then when a woman is successful in gaining employment they can provide a further five items to start her on her way to a capsule working wardrobe. It's a long term solution, and a sustainable one at that - and here's where you can help.

From now on we are going to be accepting donations on behalf of Smart Works in store (with no end date!). At a time when donations are harder to come by, this can significantly help the charity to keep supporting the women in need. In turn it encourages us all to think outside the box when it comes to our no longer wanted items of clothing and caring more about what happens to them after we've had our wear.

We chatted to Emma Jewson, Smart Work Edinburgh's Manager, to hear more about how the charity works with donations. 

'We never buy clothes - the clothing we give our clients comes from donations from the public and retailers. This means the Smart Works dressing room is the perfect place to give clothes and accessories a second life, while helping women fulfil their potential.

We know that Treen shoppers consider the impact that their clothes have when they are buying them, so we’re really excited to see the outcome when we ask those same women to donate clothing with equal thought and care. Each item in our wardrobe has the potential to change another woman’s life – it’s not about throwing things away and seeing where they land. We want the lucky jacket that you keep for sentimental reasons, or the dress you wore when you got your dream job.

Our ideal donations are clean, high-quality, interview-appropriate clothes and accessories that make our clients feel like the best versions of themselves for their job interview. A good rule of thumb is that if you wouldn’t lend it to a friend for her interview, we probably can’t use it.'

Keen to help us give back, whilst also finding a good second home for your unwanted pieces that may have served you well in the past? Check out a few guidelines below.

How to donate

1. All donated items need to be in good condition - in Emma's words, would you loan them to your best friend to help her impress at an interview?
2. Please wash, clean or steam all items before donating.
3. 10 items maximum (please email us at hello@shoptreen.com if you would like to donate more)
4. Donate items in a reusable carrier, or paper bag if possible (all items are held for 48 hours before the Smart Works team handles them in light of COVID-19)
5. Drop them off at the store - address below - during our opening hours. Not local to our store but want to get involved? Drop us an email at hello@shoptreen.com. 

Where to donate

treen 
2, St. Stephen Place,
Stockbridge, Edinburgh

Sat 10-6
Sun 11-5

We'll be accepting donations for the foreseeable future, so drop by anytime!

Have any questions about donations, or want to know more about Smart Works? Please feel free to give them a ring on 0131 5167787 for more help or info.