January is the time for a good old clear-out. To early for a spring clean, but I always make sure to sort through my wardrobes in the post-Christmas holidays to make my room as tidy as possible for the New Year, always donating seveal bin bags full of booty to charity. This year is no exception, which makes it pretty good timing for The Empty Shop to come back to Manchester Arndale.

The Empty Shop is a charity fashion project which has taken stock (quite literally!) for 10 days in Exchange Square, at Manchester Arndale – that’s right in front of Next, Starbucks and River Island on the ground floor. It started in 2014 (where my images are from, when I stopped by with a couple of bags of clothes to share) and receives donations for a charity named The Mustard Tree, where clothes are donated to the homeless. Despite the name, you can’t actually buy anything form this shop – only donate, and last year over 2 tones of clothing were donated. A very worthy cause. 

Anyone and everyone is encouraged to get involved. Whether you’re a brand with 1,000 items going spare (an actual donation number from one brand last year!) or an individual with only a couple of bits and bobs to donate, every little helps and everyone is welcome to pop down. Fashion bloggers and stylists have also been encouraged to pop down and style up a few items on the stall – I am hoping to pop by this weekend to show my support again this year!

Last night The Empty Shop 2015 launched in the Arndale, with coronation street celeb Brooke Vincent opening the night. The shop will run from 23rd January til the 1st February, so there’s plenty of time to pop by and see what’s going on. I know I will be.