The British Red Cross is launching a fashion pop-up boutique in London’s Covent Garden to celebrate 100 years of pop up charity shops, from November 7 for 10 days. Between 1914-1918, 90,000 Red Cross volunteers gave their time and skills to help the sick and wounded during the First World War; doing everything from nursing and air raid duty to searching for missing people and transporting the wounded. The First World War also saw the widespread growth of fundraising for the Red Cross with its first charity shops popping up across London and offering a variety of luxury and unusual pieces. Known as Gift Houses, these pop-ups offered a range of items including donations of Egyptian tapestries, paintings, silver and gold alongside Great Danes, a Persian kitten and a pair of Pointers. The Covent Garden pop-up will offer a range of fashion pieces donated by designer and premium high-street brands such as Erdem, Giles Deacon, Phillip Treacy, Ostwald Helgason, Russell and Bromley and Boden. Reputable home-ware retailers including Heal’s and Thorody have also donated to the boutique, as well as accessory offerings from Stella McCartney, Ancient Greek Sandals, and Loake shoes. The pop-up will host exclusive pieces, from handbags, coats, jewellery and wool accessories, to stationery, cushions, clocks and candlesticks. Sienna Miller is also opening up her wardrobe to donate pieces to the cause. Prices will start from £10. The launch of The Gift House is part of a nationwide initiative to drive stock to its 330 charity shops nationwide in the run up to Christmas.

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