92% of us have clothes in our wardrobe that we just don’t wear. If you’re part of that number (and we bet you are!), you can make a change this week.  Bring the M&S clothes that you no longer wear to one of their stores on Wednesday 8th September, and they will donate them to Oxfam Ireland.

As a thank you, M&S will give you a €7 voucher to treat yourself to something from the clothing, home and beauty ranges from their store.

Find out more about the Oxfam and M&S Clothes Exchange partnership.

Do you have clothes, accessories, jewellery, shoes or other items you’d like to transform into something new through the magic of swap?  Bring your items to:

The Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Sligo

On Thursday 16th September 2010
From 7.30 pm – 9.30 pm

Admission: €10.00

Tickets are available to buy in the Oxfam Sligo Shop, at the door and in other venues around Sligo.

For more information phone: 913 8913 or 087 288 6894

Did you know about that Oxfam and M&S have teamed up to help shoppers raise money to fight poverty?  This gorgeous animation explains the simple and brilliant M&S and Oxfam Clothes Exchange.  The video was animated by Will Barrass, the voiceover is by Adam Buxton of Adam and Joe, and the music is by Slow Club.

Participating in the M&S and Oxfam Clothes Exchange will get you a €7 voucher in the Republic of Ireland or a £5 voucher in Northern Ireland to use at M&S.  Find out more about it here »

We at Oxfam were delighted to hear the Belfast Rose, Frances Rafferty, mention Oxfamvintage as one of the sources of her lovely dresses for the Rose of Tralee competition.

Oxfamvintage is Oxfam’s dedicated vintage line, which features unique pieces from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.  The range also includes accessories such as shoes, bags, belts and jewellery.  Visit the Oxfamvintage site to find out more about where the range is available, and see some fantastic photography featuring the clothes.

You can see Frances the Belfast Rose discussing her clothing style at around 47 minutes into the video of the show on RTE.ie.

New products are arriving daily into Oxfam Ireland’s four Fair Trade shops. And this is just the beginning – we will be getting new shipments regularly from now til Christmas.  Here’s just a taster of some of the great new things that arrived this week:

Set of 3 Bangles €15.00 / £12.00

New jewellery can be just the thing to update an existing outfit, like this set of three textured bangles from Manjeen in India

Read the rest of this entry »

Agnes Nangawiri from Malawi hugs the schoolbooks which were bought for her with the profit her family made from selling their Oxfam goat. Agnes is top of her class of 70 children. Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith/Oxfam

Calling all bookworms: Oxfam Sligo is holding a special sale of antique and rare books from Sat 28th Aug – Sat 4th Sep.

Old treasures and first editions will be available, as well as discounts on all other books on sale in the shop.

Oxfam Sligo is at 17 Grattan Street.

Curioser and curioser! Oxfam Sligo is holding their very own Mad Hatter’s Tea Party this Friday, August 20th.  Free Fairtrade tea, coffee and homemade buns will be served, and handmade hats created by designer Dee Healy will be on sale.

The event will take place from 11am – 1pm, and all are welcome!

Oxfam Sligo is located at 17 Grattan Street, Sligo.

The weekly newsletter LeCool, which finds cutting-edge events in various major cities, has nominated Oxfam’s Haiti Lives exhibition as one of this week’s picks.   The exhibition closes tomorrow, so be sure to get down to the Powerscourt Townhouse in Dublin to see it before it goes.  You’ll also be able to see and bid on the Oxfamhome DIY furniture (also recommended by LeCool) which is on display in the exhibition space.

Bids on the unique designer-customised furniture will be accepted until mid August.

Click the image to watch the video on TV3's website. The segment on Oxfambridal starts at 26 mins into the show.

TV3’s Morning Show ran an excellent segment on bargain shopping for weddings yesterday, which featured a look at the Oxfambridal shop and an interview with its manager, Solene.  Click the image to watch the show on the TV3 website – the relevant segment starts at 26 minutes in.

Oxfambridal is Oxfam’s dedicated wedding wear boutique. Brides can make appointments to view the extensive collection of dresses, most of which are brand new and were donated by designers. Oxfambridal also stocks veils, shoes accessories, bridesmaids dresses and hats. Buying an Oxfambridal wedding dress for only €250, can buy two families in Africa a goat for each father, a vegetable garden for each mother and school books and musical instruments for the kids.

Click the image to watch the clip on the RTE website

RTE’s Six One News featured the Oxfamhome DIY auction last night, showing some of the gorgeous pieces that have been customised for Oxfam, and featuring interviews with some of the designers and Oxfamhome’s manager.

The silent auction for the seven unique pieces is still going on – you can bid here now.  The auction’s closing date has been extended until August 16th.