Local charity springs into new venture

GEELONG-based charity the Offspring Project is expanding its services, creating the Offspring Collective, a second-hand boutique store.

The latest addition is expected to open next month and will be a specially curated space of second-hand clothes.

Offspring Project founder Kristi Davidson said the idea for the collective is something she’s had in the back of her mind for a while.

“I think the time has come for us where donations can be challenging and constantly asking people for financial donations, you have to be creative in how you do that.

“We came up with this concept of a second-hand curated boutique store for people to be able to contribute to Offspring in a different way but also bringing Offspring to Geelong.”

While the Offspring Project works heavily in India fighting sex trafficking, Ms Davidson is hoping the collective is an opportunity to educate the region around modern slavery in Australia.

Through the boutique store, the goal is to create a space where people can be educated about what’s going on, while using clothes in a sustainable way.

Ms Davidson said there are a number of things they are wanting to achieve through the collective.

“Having a physical space for Offspring so people can actually learn about Offspring, being able to come to a space where we can talk about it and they can learn,” she said

“[It’s] another financial pathway for us as an organisation, those people donating clothes that we’re able to then sell and use that contribution to increase what we do in India.”

They also hope one day the space will be a place that adopts a similar model to what it has in India and offer women who have experienced sexual violence, a safe working environment.

The Offspring team is in the process of collecting donations for the boutique, with the intention of opening the doors around mid-July.

Part of the difference of the Offspring Collective is that it is a boutique second-hand store, with people keen on donating asked to be selective with the pieces they give and the quality.

Donations can be made by emailing [email protected] or by getting in touch through the Offspring Collective social pages.