Keeping clothes in circulation

A Newquay hub turning preloved children’s clothes into societal impact.

In a world where fast fashion and cheap imports often overshadow sustainability, The Clothes Horse in Newquay is building something that encourages us to stop and think about our purchases and to offer something back to those less fortunate. It is social tipping in action. Founded nine years ago as a community interest company, it focuses on helping families across Cornwall access affordable, good-quality children’s clothing while keeping tonnes of textiles out of landfill. Its work rests on a simple exchange: families donate outgrown garments or make a voluntary contribution for items they take home, ensuring every transaction directly supports the running of the hub and the continuation of its services – a sustainable, circular micro-economy in action.

In this sense The Clothes Horse is more than a clothing exchange; it is a social effort, a pole of resistance that can inspire and help mobilise our better values: altruism, empathy, community, family and the pursuit of a more just and equitable world. Since opening its doors in 2016, it has saved 14 tonnes of clothing from landfill, a tangible achievement in an era of disposable fashion. Beyond its Newquay base, the organisation also works with schools, community groups and partner charities, providing clothing parcels for families facing hardship, including refugees, those experiencing homelessness or people fleeing domestic abuse.

One of its bedrocks is the belief that every child deserves to feel comfortable and confident in what they wear, and that fashion should not come at the cost of the planet. This winter, its Christmas Jumper Appeal highlights that mission in action, encouraging families to donate festive knitwear rather than buy new. By keeping jumpers in circulation, The Clothes Horse demonstrates how small, local acts can chip away at global waste.

The organisation’s achievements have been made possible through a mix of local generosity and formal support from funders such as the Cornwall Community Foundation, The National Lottery and Seedbed. Yet volunteers remain the backbone of the enterprise, giving time and energy to sorting, displaying and distributing clothing with care.

Plans are now in motion to launch a Crowdfunder to improve the hub and strengthen its future. In every sense, The Clothes Horse shows that with imagination and the willpower to pursue an idea, change is possible; how something small can become the catalyst to create a new common sense.

THE CLOTHES HORSE
Unit 11 Treloggan Industrial Estate,
Newquay TR7 2SX
www.the-clotheshorse.com
07866 615219