SATCoL, which is responsible for The Salvation Army’s clothing banks and many of its charity shops, has won a coveted fashion industry award for its commitment to textile sustainability and second-hand clothing. 

As the largest charity-owned textiles collector in the UK, each year SATCoL puts more than 250 million items to good use, including over 65,000 tonnes of textiles, which it diverts away from landfill and disposal each year. 

The ‘Best Social Enterprise or Charity Initiative Award’ for sustainable practices that benefit the wider community was awarded by Drapers, the leading fashion industry publication. The independent panel of judges described the work of SATCoL as ‘phenomenal’ and ‘the most innovative in terms of getting value out of everything’.

Charlene Bent, Marketing Manager for the Clothing Collections Division at SATCoL said, “We are delighted to receive such a coveted award. Our 9,000 clothing banks and over 240 charity shops provide convenient ways for members of the public to support our charity, and also engage in sustainable textile reuse and recycling. Awards like this recognise our efforts to support our mission in caring for creation, and our new innovations and services to keep driving forward change. It is an honour to be recognised for our commitments to both positive social and environmental impact.”