A clothing charity called Dressability in Swindon has been rebranding and donating thousands of brand new garments that would have gone to landfill, helping people in need such as the homeless. The charity receives around 1,000 items every year, worth up to £100 each, and distributes them across the UK and even internationally. General manager Sharon Tombs notes that the project promotes sustainability by preventing waste and giving people a second chance with good quality clothing. Companies like Osnic Embroidery in Weston-super-Mare are now regularly donating surplus stock to Dressability after learning about its rebranding project.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A clothing charity in Swindon, Dressability, has found a new purpose for thousands of brand new coats and other garments that would otherwise have gone to waste. The charity removes company branding from these items and donates them to people in need. Since launching its rebranding project, Dressability has helped distribute over 1,000 altered and donated items every year, with some going as far as Liverpool and even Ukraine. These donations can be worth up to £100 each, providing essential warmth and dryness for people like Patrick Lewis, a volunteer at the Swindon Night Shelter who benefited from one of these coats after being homeless himself.
Written for “Clothing Waste Reduction Efforts” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article presents a generally neutral and positive view of the charity's efforts to reuse brand new clothing, but slightly emphasizes the 'sustainability' aspect, which could be seen as a subtle nod towards environmental concerns often associated with left-leaning politics. However, the overall tone is informative and objective.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score +0.20 for article 478 · logged 2026-08-05
- Published
A clothing charity has helped save thousands of brand new coats, fleeces and other garments from going to landfill by removing company branding and donating them to people in need.
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charity → publish → need
Dressability in Swindon said demand for its clothing rebranding project has grown rapidly, with more than 1,000 items now altered and distributed every year.
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items → say → project
Initially the clothing was donated to organisations in Swindon and Wiltshire, but growing volumes mean items are now being sent as far away as Liverpool and Ukraine.
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items → donate → Liverpool
"We get a brand new coat for example that can be worth up to £100 and people in need, such as the homeless, can benefit," said general manager Sharon Tombs.
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Tombs → get → homeless
It kept me warm and dry'
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It → keep → me
One charity that benefits is the Swindon Night Shelter.
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that → benefit → ?
Patrick Lewis volunteers there after using the shelter himself when he was homeless.
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he → volunteer → shelter
He remembers receiving one of the coats from the project.
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He → remember → project
"It was really nice," said Lewis.
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Lewis → say → ?
"It kept me warm and dry during the winter period.
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It → keep → period
"I wasn't expecting something like that and I really needed it because when I was homeless I lost all my things, everything.
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I → expect → things
"It's been excellent having the coats," said Dawn Prosser, manager of the Swindon night shelter.
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Prosser → have → shelter
"When we show people and ask which size they need, they can't believe how good the coat is and we say that's what we want, to show you there's a way forward and to give you the best that we can really.
"It's gives people self esteem as well as keeping them warm and dry," she said.
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she → show → them
How unwanted clothing gets a second life
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clothing → get → life
Dressability mainly alters clothing for people with disabilities, but launched its rebranding project after receiving coats that would otherwise have gone to waste.
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that → alter → waste
"We started the rebranding project after getting a delivery of coats from a company that ceased trading," said Tombs.
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Tombs → start → company
"I was concerned that we were throwing away brand new coats, so we sensitively patched and improved them, covering the branding, and the project went from there.
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project → concern → branding
Once altered, the clothing is then donated to people in need.
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clothing → alter → need
"Plus it's about sustainability, because our work prevents these items from going to landfill," said Tombs.
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Tombs → prevent → landfill
One company that supplies garments is Osnic Embroidery in Weston-super-Mare, which produces clothing with bespoke logos for businesses.
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which → supply → businesses
But as Michael Osmond from the company explained, surplus stock is often left over.
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stock → explain → company
"You've got spare garments because companies change their logos or they have discontinued items, sometimes a needle breaks in the machine and the logo is ruined and you can't sell it," he said.
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he → get → it
"We have coats, fleeces, t-shirts, even shorts and trousers.
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We → have → coats
"
Instead of being thrown away, the items are sent to Dressability, where logos and branding are covered or removed before the clothes can be used again.
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clothes → throw → Dressability
Dressability said it is now getting five calls a week from companies looking to donate clothing.
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it → say → clothing
The charity is already distributing more than 1,000 items a year, with numbers continuing to rise.
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numbers → distribute → items
To help meet growing demand, it is appealing for local sewing groups to volunteer their time and skills so more unwanted clothing can be given a second life rather than ending up in landfill.
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clothing → help → landfill
