BARGAIN hunters and creative minds are being invited to a different kind of night out in Mossley.
A local charity shop will be opening its doors after hours for an evening centred on reuse, community and conversation.
Emmaus Mossley is hosting its “After Shift Thrift” event on Thursday, May 7, turning its Secondhand Superstore at Longlands Mill into a late-night hub for vintage finds, creative workshops and discussion.
Shoppers can expect rails of handpicked pre-loved clothing, collectables and a mix of quirky items, alongside freshly stocked books, films and music. But the evening is about more than just browsing.
Working with Manchester-based collective Future Fashion Fair, the event will also include an open mic-style discussion exploring how reuse can become more mainstream. The session, titled “circular conversations: how can we make reuse more mainstream?”, aims to bring together different voices from across the community.
Molly Ridgway, Retail Assistant at Emmaus Mossley and organiser of the event, said: “The evening will be a great opportunity to try something new, learn something new, and find plenty of secondhand treasures! Opening outside of our regular retail hours means that we can provide the Emmaus experience to supporters who can’t always make it during the day.”
She added: “Welcoming local organisations such as Future Fashion Fair and Notorious Screen Printing to get involved is so important. These partners help to expand our community and bring a mix of people together, all whilst working together to reduce waste, spread awareness and have fun along the way.”
Alongside the shopping and discussion, visitors can also get hands-on. The Social Studio, a regular creative workshop hosted at Emmaus, will run during the evening, giving attendees the chance to design and screen print their own artwork onto secondhand T-shirts with guidance from Notorious Screen Printing.
Joe Mountain, director and founder of Future Fashion Fair, said: “Spaces like Emmaus show that reuse is thriving in local regions, rooted in community, and real social value. At Future Fashion Fair, we’re working to make reuse more visible, accessible and ultimately more mainstream, and partnering with Emmaus we hope to spark an engaging conversation.”
Emmaus Mossley supports people who have experienced homelessness by providing a stable home, work opportunities and tailored support, funded in part through its retail operation.
The After Shift Thrift event runs from 6.30pm to 8.30pm and is free to attend, with all money raised on the night going back into the charity’s work.