Fashion Student Opens Pop-Up Shop To Help Combat Homelessness

University of South Wales student Angharad Griffith will open a pop-up shop in Cardiff this week after teaming up with homelessness charity The Wallich. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Angharad, who is in her final year of a Fashion Marketing and Retail Design degree, set up a new not-for-profit brand called Two of a Kind, which will sell street-style clothing in aid of the charity. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The first pop-up shop will open on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 February in Duke Street Arcade, Cardiff, selling jumpers to help support The Wallich and its WISE programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

WISE (Working in Sustainable Employment) supports homeless and vulnerable people to move in to employment by delivering training, volunteering opportunities and work placements with the ultimate aim of the participants gaining employment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The scheme, launched in 2015, has so far supported 29 people, with three people employed by The Wallich. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Angharad said: “I hope to use my degree to break down societal norms and use creativity to get people talking about homelessness. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’ve been a volunteering in the charity sector for the last few months and it’s opened my eyes to the issue of homelessness within Cardiff. Only a handful of projects support getting homeless people back into work, and The Wallich and their WISE project have inspired me to want to be a part of that. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I believe the next generation should care for each other and I want to express this with the designs that I create. The whole project has been a great experience and I hope Two of a Kind becomes a well-known brand in the future. The possibilities are endless and there’s always someone who needs the support. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I also want to thank promotional products company WAPP for supporting me. They printed some of the clothing for me at cost price and in addition provided free prints, so more of what I raise from garment sales can go to the charity.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Michael Cowley, Fundraising and Partnerships Senior Manager at The Wallich, added: “Angharad’s innovative idea to use her talent and interest in fashion to fundraise for The Wallich is a great example of the different ways you can get involved to support the causes you care about. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Angharad is passionate about helping people to get back into work, and the money raised from her event will make a real difference to the participants of our WISE programme as they begin to re-build their lives.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​