#SheInspiresMe Car Boot Sale: Community event raises over £220,000 in aid of Women for Women International

14^th May 2018

Selina Begum

Shot by Matthew Pull

Selina Begum Shot by Matthew Pull

14 May 2018

The #SheInspiresMe Car Boot Sale returned bigger and better than ever on Saturday 12^th May, hosted by Alex Eagle and in partnership with THEOUTNET.COM, raising over £222,500 (and counting) to support the work of Women for Women International, the charity which helps female survivors of war to rebuild their lives.

With advance tickets sold out weeks before the event, there were queues round the block as fashionistas headed to Brewer Street Car Park to enjoy guilt-free shopping. Fashion hunters browsed the latest styles, designer clothes, shoes and accessories from world-class fashion designers and VIPs including Alex Eagle, THEOUTNET.COM, Vestiaire Collective & Bay Garnett, Noor Fares, Charlotte Olympia Dellal, Maria Kastani, M.i.h jeans, Bespoke Your World, Hikari Yokoyama, Mira Mikati and Irina Lakicevic, amongst many others. Boots were overflowing with unique samples and one-off designer items from vintage Prada and Chanel to new pieces from Alice Temperley, Stella McCartney, Charlotte Olympia and other such exciting brands.

As well as indulging in fashion, guests were pampered at beauty stations from Charlotte Tilbury, Blink Brow Bar and Sassoon, and were offered restoration and upcycling to personalise and restore pre-loved clothes. There were also plenty of food and drink offerings with highlights from The Store Kitchen and Jasmine Hemsley. This event is perfect for fashion followers who can buy the pieces they want and help a great and worthy cause to boot. 

250 men and women volunteered on Saturday with running the booths, serving food, and general logistics, which shows we live in a society that is ultimately humane and caring. An event like this also proves how connected we are and by working together, we can make a difference to the lives of those who need it most. 

For those unable to attend, a selection of covetable pieces from the likes of Louis Vuitton, Jimmy Choo and Roland Mouret were also auctioned on eBay to raise additional funds in aid of Women for Women International.

Brita Fernandez Schmidt, executive director of the charity, was touched by the effort of those involved and delighted with the outcome:

“I am so grateful to everyone who participated and shopped at our car boot sale. Our mission at Women for Women International is to provide the most marginalised women in conflict-affected countries with knowledge, resources and skills to rebuild their lives, lift themselves and their families out of poverty, and to create sustainable positive change in their communities. We cannot do this on our own and today has shown us that there is a whole community of people who care and who want to make a difference.” 

Selina Begum
Photos: Matthew Pull

For further information about Women for Women International visit their website here.