Charity Shops

Charity shops are retail spaces that sell donated second hand items in order to raise money for charitable organisations. They sell a variety of things such as clothing, books, toys, furniture, accessories and household objects. They reflect ideas surrounding sustainability and consumer culture. By reusing objects, they challenge fast fashion/ consumption and promote recycling and ethical shopping.

When it comes to an art context, it can allow everyday items to become symbolic representations of memory, identity and human experience. Not only are charity shops useful for art due to cost and accessibility, but removing objects from their original context and giving them new meaning can be impactful.

For my project, gathering items from charity shops works with my projects as the objects have been lived in and emotionally charged. The unknown history of the items reflects the themes of unsent letters, memories and unresolved emotions. I am going to visit some charity shops with the goal of finding some glasses and a teddy bear that once belonged to someone.