Vintage costume trail boosts charity shops

8 March 2011

A Vintage Costume Trail partnership scheme has been forged between Stevenage Museum and Stevenage’s Charity shops. This was supported by a grant from Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service, funded by Renaissance East of England.

Panels showing items of the museum’s costume collection were displayed in various charity shops - including our own Keech Hospice Care shop - around the town from mid-December until mid-January. Members of the public were able to follow the trail back to the museum for further panels and a new display case showing changing items of costume, which would normally be hidden away in the store.

Ruth Stratton, curator of Stevenage museum said: ‘The current fashion for anything vintage has led to a greater interest in charity shops and this is great news. A vintage costume project between the shops and the museum seemed a natural partnership. Charity shops are like mini ‘style museums’ where you can rummage, browse and learn but with the added bonus of being able to purchase something which takes your fancy.’

Please support your local Keech Hospice care Charity shop. Click here to find out where your nearest shop is located.