More than 1000 items of clothing lined the M.G. O’Brien Hall at the weekend, giving a glimpse into the many wardrobes of the Goulburn Valley.
Sam Spinks is the brains trust behind The GV Wardrobe, an exchange system of sorts in which people can hand in their pre-loved clothes for a $2 token to spend at the store.
With each item selling for $10, five pieces of clothing donated equals one new piece to add to the wardrobe — all of which has occurred online, until now.
For the first time, Ms Spinks took the 1600 bits and pieces out of their neatly bundled storage and popped them on shelves for an “in-store experience” on Saturday, August 14, and Sunday, August 15.
She said the two-day pop-up store proved a success, with a line at the door before opening, attracting people from all walks of life.
The hall was decked with items ordered in size and type, presenting an extended range of sizing from a women’s four through to 26.
Ms Spinks said the display provided a snapshot of life and women in particular of Shepparton.
“Women of the GV are all these different sizes, styles and brands,” she said.
“There’s a lot of Kmart stuff through here, and for me, what that shows is that’s the price point a lot of us are buying at.
“And so this is sort of saying, ‘hey, if you’re going to buy it from there, come do it from here’. It’s the same product, same price and you’re doing it in a way that’s not using resources.”
While the The GV Wardrobe will remain mostly an online entity, Ms Spinks said she was looking forward to hosting another pop-up shop.