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Sustainability
Happy first birthday, Vinnies Finds
There's something worth celebrating in the Vinnies NSW family this year. Our online pre-loved fashion platform, Vinnies Finds, has turned one and what a first year it's been. Like any good first year of life, it's been full of milestones, a few surprises, and plenty of reasons to feel proud. Created at the right time Vinnies Finds didn't arrive by accident. It was created because the way Australians like to shop has changed and Vinnies NSW paid close attention. The Australian recommerce market is expected to reach USD$6.75 billion by 2029 and is currently growing annually by 9.6%. Shoppers are actively choosing pre-loved items, and they're doing it online. Australia Post's 2025 eCommerce Report found that 65% of Gen Z and Millennials plan to buy more second-hand goods over the next five years, a shift driven by both sustainability and cost-of-living pressures. Vinnies NSW saw these trends and acted. Vinnies Finds launched in late May 2025 and brought quality, character, and the community of our stores into the online space. Vinnies Finds made pre-loved fashion accessible to shoppers across the state and country. First steps? More like a sprint. Vinnies Finds didn't crawl. It ran. Our shoppers clearly have style and the numbers prove it. Since May 2025, the platform has sold more than 53,000 items. The Vinnies Finds community has discerning taste. The most-searched categories were bags, boots, dresses, jewellery, and jackets. The most-searched brands spanned Country Road, Gorman, and Nike through to Gucci, Chanel, and Prada. And the quickest online sale? Two minutes. The standout pieces from year one reflected the remarkable quality of what passes through Vinnies NSW stores every day – an Yves Saint Laurent crossbody bag, Céline knee-high boots, a Christian Dior jacket, and a vintage Burberry trench coat. Each one found a new owner. Each item has told a story of a donation that found exactly the right home. Growing up green We’re also proud of what didn’t happen in year one, as a result of the creation of Vinnies Finds: 53 tonnes of clothing and accessories didn't go to landfill. Instead, these items were recycled. To put this figure in perspective, 53 tonnes is the weight of an Airbus 220-300 aircraft. Every item that has been sold on Vinnies Finds has been a garment given a second life. It has been re-worn, re-loved, and kept in circulation rather than discarded. In a country where fashion waste remains a significant environmental challenge, that's a huge feat. Shopping with purpose Here is where Vinnies Finds becomes something more than a fashion platform. Every purchase made on Vinnies Finds has been reinvested directly into Vinnies NSW programs and services supporting people experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity, and financial hardship across the state. Right now, that support has never been more needed. A recent YouGov survey commissioned by Vinnies NSW found that more than half of Australians are cutting back on food, medicine, and other essentials just to keep a roof over their heads. Calls to Vinnies Assist NSW have doubled since March 2025. The cost-of-living crisis is not easing and for many people, Vinnies is the call they make when there is nowhere else to turn. When a shopper buys a pre-loved dress or a vintage coat on Vinnies Finds, they're not just making a sustainable choice. They are contributing to emergency relief, housing support, and the community programs that help people find their footing again. Vinnies Finds has had a wonderful first year of life. We couldn't be prouder and we can't wait to see what it does next. Celebrate our first birthday, shop the best of Vinnies Finds.
May 28, 2026
Fashion
Sustainability
From Op Shop to Aisle: Rachel’s $70 Vera Wang Wedding Dress Find
It was a rainy Saturday morning in March 2025. Rachel and her then-fiancée Courtney were at the back of a long queue outside Vinnies Waverley, sheltering under awnings with a coffee and a bridesmaid in tow. They had no idea what they were about to find inside the Vinnies Wedding Expo. Meet Rachel Rachel is an economist and a committed thrifter. She and Courtney got engaged in the spirit of the marriage equality vote. So, when it came to the wedding, buying new was never part of the plan. “Neither of us were ever going to buy a dress new, for budget reasons, but also just because there are already so many wedding dresses in the world.” They’d tried a traditional bridal boutique once. It wasn’t for them: “It was just like, ‘which one of you people is getting married?’, ‘tell us about the dress you’ve always imagined wearing.’ I was like, wow, there are so many assumptions in that that really don’t apply to us.” The Vinnies Wedding Expo was a different world entirely. No bridezillas here Rachel had heard rumours: chaos, competition, every bride for herself. What she found was strangers cheering each other out the door, fast friends made in the queue, and an inclusive and collaborative experience. “Bridezillas aren’t at Vinnies. These were nice people who were really excited about getting married and really into ethical fashion. It was a really diverse group, and everyone was excited for everyone else.” The dress that found her Rachel hadn't banked on walking out with a dress. Then a fellow shopper called out from the lower floor, offering one that didn't fit her. “I put it on and it just fit perfectly. And I was like, well, I can’t not...” The price tag: $70. What Rachel didn't know yet was that she'd just picked up a Vera Wang wedding gown, a fact she only discovered at the tailor. “As I tried it on, she said, ‘Hang on, this is a Vera Wang wedding dress. How much did you buy it for?’ And she said, ‘You know it’s worth $10,000.’ And I was like, wow. Well, I was never going to spend that.” The dress needed a little love, but Rachel was happy to give it. A tear repaired, lace repurposed, and layers of tulle cut away. Each tweak made it less someone else's dress and more unmistakably hers. “I have this image burned in my memory of holding up the skirt in front of the mirror at the tailor and she’s just cutting layers and layers of tulle out of this Vera Wang. The story is so ridiculous now that it just had to be THE dress.” Rachel and Courtney married in January this year at Athol Hall, Sydney. Impact Wedding outfits are too often worn once before being discarded. By choosing pre-loved, Rachel joined a growing movement of couples making their big day both affordable while reducing textile waste and keeping beautiful pieces in circulation. And when Rachel's done with it, her dress will go back to Vinnies too. "I love that it had a story and I love that I can pass it on as well." Rachel also loved the fact that she was giving back. "Weddings are so much money, and so much of it goes to really commercial places. If I'm going to spend the most I've ever spent on a single item of clothing, I want it to be an impactful choice." Funds raised through the Vinnies Wedding Expo will directly support Vinnies NSW programs and services which help people experiencing housing insecurity, homelessness, and financial hardship across the state. Find your wedding outfit at the Vinnies Wedding Expo 2026 📅 Saturday 18 April – Friday 24 April 📍 Vinnies Waverley, 255/259 Bronte Rd, Waverley NSW 2024 More info here
Apr 09, 2026
Fashion
Sustainability
Look Good, Feel Great, Save the Planet: Take the #PrelovedPledge This World Environment Day
This World Environment Day, we’re not just talking about sustainability—we’re wearing it. The #PrelovedPledge is your chance to make a difference for both the planet and your wallet.
Jun 05, 2025
Donations
Sustainability
Here's what happens to your donated clothes at our Stanmore Stop & Drop
Ever wondered what happens to your pre-loved clothes after you donate them? Let’s take a peek behind the scenes and follow the life of a donated outfit—from your closet to someone else’s.
Mar 10, 2025
