Mystery as over £5,000 worth of new designer clothes donated to charity shop

Volunteer Neale Bothwell and shop manager Kylie Cooney wear some of the donations made to Shelter Scotland shop
Volunteer Neale Bothwell and shop manager Kylie Cooney wear some of the donations made to Shelter Scotland shop

An Aberdeen charity shop has joined the ranks of high-fashion retailers in the city after a generous mystery donor handed over designer clothes worth thousands of pounds.

Staff and volunteers at Shelter Scotland’s shop on Union Street in Aberdeen were amazed when boxes of men’s designer shirts worth up to £100 each, ties worth up to £45 each and other apparel were donated featuring brands such as Vivienne Westwood, Peter Van Holland and Hope and Glory.

All items were in mint condition, many with the original price tags on, and are now up for sale in the charity shop for a fraction of their original price tag. The total value of the donation is estimated to be over £5,000 – enough to help 500 households through Shelter Scotland’s free national helpline.

Items for sale include:

  • Energie boots retail £120, selling for £50
  • Hats from A. Christensen retail £35 selling for £10
  • Orican leather belts retail £65 selling for £20 to £30
  • Psycho Cowboy shirts retail £65 selling for £10-£15
  • Hope and Glory Jumpers original £60 selling for £8.50
  • Obvious brand suits retail £350 selling for £50
  • Peter Van Holland suits retail £325 selling for £50
  • Kylie Cooney, manager of Shelter Scotland’s Aberdeen Union Street shop, said: “We’ve been gobsmacked by this generous donation and can’t thank whoever donated it enough. We’re humbled that they chose to donate to Shelter Scotland and want them to know that every penny we raise from selling these items will go towards helping households facing homelessness and bad housing here in Aberdeen and across the whole of Scotland.”

    In Aberdeen, 1,282 households made homelessness applications in 2014-15.

    Kylie Cooney added: “While this generous donation will go a long way to make a difference to families and individuals facing housing crisis, we are always in desperate need of donations to help raise funds. The people of Aberdeen have shown their support for Shelter Scotland time and again and we’re urging locals to continue to back us as we work to help more people who are facing the human tragedy of homelessness.

    “We urge local people to search through their wardrobes, cupboards and attics and drop in to the shop with their pre-loved goods. Your donations don’t have to have a designer label; whether they’re as good as new or have seen better days - all donations are welcome.

    “It costs just £10 for one of our expert advisors to help a family or individual at risk of losing their home – we can raise that money by selling an unwanted dress or pair of shoes.

    “There’s never been a better time to donate to Shelter Scotland in the knowledge that every dress, shirt or book sold will make a real difference to a family or individual in need.”

    The donated designer items are available for sale now at Shelter Scotland, 472 Union St, Aberdeen, AB10 1TS.

    @shelterscotland

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