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Fashion blog

Sustainable fashion news and updates, charity shopping tips and vintage styling from the Oxfam Fashion team. Join the discussion.

Shwopping takes over East London!

Posted by Kelly OConnor Digital and Events Marketing Coordinator

9th Aug 2012

The country is being swept up in Olympic fever and Marks & Spencer (M&S) has channelled some of this into creating a massive Union Jack flag out of donated clothes.

Using 2,100 items donated to the Shwopping initiative, M&S and Oxfam volunteers took over West Ham Park in East London today to create a massive piece of recycled art work.

Shwopping is M&S and Oxfam's revolutionary sustainable fashion initiative asking consumers to adopt a 'buy one, give one' mentality when shopping and encourage greater sustainability on the high street.

All items used in the creation of the flag are going to be reused, resold or recycled by Oxfam.

The campaign aims to put an end to the one billion items currently ending up in landfill every year. All M&S clothing stores now accept used and unwanted items of clothing from any brand, all year round.

There was so much reaction to this on Twitter today, we've pulled together our favs for you take a look at:

  1. OxfamFashion
    RT @shwopping: The team jumping for joy, we did it! #shwopping http://pic.twitter.com/tcACGEas
    Thu, Aug 09 2012 05:50:11
  2. shwopping
    All the red, white & blue clothes used to make today's flag will be heading to @oxfamgb tonight to be recycled, resold and reused #shwopping
    Thu, Aug 09 2012 06:31:38
  3. OxfamFashion
    Check out this amazing flag created by the @marksandspencer @shwopping team all these clothes will go to Oxfam :) http://pic.twitter.com/Wboj57Xj
    Thu, Aug 09 2012 06:01:03
  4. s4r4h74
    RT @shwopping: @RealDeniseLewis do you like our Union Jack made from unwanted clothes to support our athletes? If so RT #shwopping http://pic.twitter.com/c8dB9xM0
    Thu, Aug 09 2012 07:54:17
  5. retailfocus
    RT @marksandspencer: Created from unwanted clothes donated at M&S and @oxfamgb RT "@shwopping: This is one hell of a flag! #shwopping http://pic.twitter.com/S9BsgOgJ"
    Thu, Aug 09 2012 05:42:55
  6. PodgyPiner
    RT "@shwopping: This is one hell of a flag! #shwopping http://pic.twitter.com/brnDle6B""
    Thu, Aug 09 2012 05:45:41
  7. williamlallen
    Very cool! RT @shwopping via @oxfamgb: We've created the world's largest Union Jack from unwanted clothes! #shwopping http://pic.twitter.com/G1Qynv7S
    Thu, Aug 09 2012 06:30:05
  8. salisburyoxfam
    RT @shwopping: All the red, white & blue clothes used to make today's flag will be heading to @oxfamgb tonight to be recycled, resold and reused #shwopping
    Thu, Aug 09 2012 07:16:55
  9. MouthLondon
    @shwopping That's pretty amazing! Are they going to be sold on as special items??
    Thu, Aug 09 2012 07:33:32
  10. PakiFaloda
    RT @oxfamgb: Who will be first - Kerri-Anne Payne or the #shwopping team? Follow all the action on @shwopping
    Thu, Aug 09 2012 06:48:24
  11. Betty_Blue_Eyes
    RT @OxfamFashion: Unfolded Magazine: #Recycled #clothing #art http://unfoldedmagazine.blogspot.com/2012/08/recycled-clothing-art.html via @UnfoldedMag @shwopping @marksandspencer
    Thu, Aug 09 2012 04:17:01
  12. rupykaur
    RT @OxfamFashion: Unfolded Magazine: #Recycled #clothing #art http://unfoldedmagazine.blogspot.com/2012/08/recycled-clothing-art.html via @UnfoldedMag @shwopping @marksandspencer
    Thu, Aug 09 2012 04:35:06
  13. oxfamgb
    During todays 10km free swim the worlds largest Union Jack flag will be created made all from unwanted clothes - @shwopping for live tweets
    Thu, Aug 09 2012 05:38:18
  14. oxfamgb
    Only 24 hours to go until the big @shwopping reveal - do you want to be a part of making it happen? Message @shwopping for more info
    Wed, Aug 08 2012 10:26:38
  15. canisgallicus
    RT @shwopping: Red, White & Blue unwanted items of clothing from #shwopping will help create our giant clothing art today http://pic.twitter.com/t45tr7lL
    Thu, Aug 09 2012 03:27:21
  16. canisgallicus
    RT @shwopping: Getting set for the big event... Can you guess what is yet? *said in Rolf Harris voice* #shwopping http://pic.twitter.com/uM8JVIU6
    Thu, Aug 09 2012 03:27:33
  17. andrewsoar
    On my way to create something BIG for @shwopping in West Ham Park
    Thu, Aug 09 2012 01:20:05
  18. OxfamWesternRd
    @shwopping for all the latest information on the big #shwopping challenge tomorrow in East London. Can anyone guess what it is?
    Wed, Aug 08 2012 12:36:51

Blog post written by Kelly OConnor

Digital and Events Marketing Coordinator

More by Kelly OConnor