A DESIGNER CHRISTMAS
Top designers such as Katherine Hamnett and Vivienne Westwood will be helping the homeless this Christmas through a Saville Row-based pop-up shop.
Over 40 menswear brands, from Savile Row legends to leading menswear designers, will be donating clothing to a special pop-up store this Christmas in aid of the UK homeless charity, Crisis.
The Pop-Up, named ‘A Call To Garms II’ takes place on 9th-19th December, at No 31 Savile Row. From Monday to Saturday, 11am-7pm, It will offer shoppers some amazing bargains, donated daily, ranging from £10 accessories to £30 items of clothing and stylish suits (from the likes of Gieves & Hawkes, Jimmy Choo, Katherine Hamnett, Mr Porter and Vivienne Westwood) to be snapped up from just £100. Gigs, events and live appearances will also be taking place alongside the shop floor, including Dermot O’Leary and Tom Stubbs’ Shopping Extravaganza Evening on 11th December, and DJ Fat Tony on the decks on December 12th. Check out the funky graffiti interiors too, from street artist Ben Eine.
The pop-up is the brainchild of menswear stylist and writer Tom Stubbs, who’d been looking for ways the fashion industry could help the cause. “I was so struck by the special work of Crisis”, he says. “The pop-up on Savile Row is a great way to raise awareness around the most important aspects of the work that Crisis does in their centres.”
Crisis are recognised for their support and training in helping thousands of homeless people across England, Scotland and Wales find permanent shelter every year. The Crisis at Christmas drive involves masses of volunteers, as 15 centres across the UK offer food, clothing, advice and support with health, housing, employment and benefits. “For a community that often feels so isolated, just simple conversation can make all the difference,” says Stubbs. “We need to learn how to engage with rough sleepers all over our city to make them feel more human again.”
The event follows last December’s inaugural pop-up ‘A Call to Garms’, which raised over £75,000 in nine days – a joint effort from shop volunteers, contributing brands and The Pollen Estate, who own the spacious shop, along with 44 other buildings in East Mayfair, including most of Cork Street (where much modern and contemporary art is to be found), along with the famed luxury menswear tailoring epicentre, Savile Row.
“Savile Row is the world’s finest street for bespoke tailoring and we are thrilled to be working with Tom Stubbs and Crisis again on the world’s most sartorial charity pop-up experience,'' says Julian Stocks, Chief Executive of The Pollen Estate.