Alison Orr is a self-confessed ‘natural trader’ with a passion for sustainability
‘I love buying and selling and, in particular, breathing new life into something unwanted that still has great value. I’m one of those people who simply can’t drive past a car boot sale without stopping to hunt for a bargain.’
That personal philosophy inspired and has underpinned the success of the Nearly New Cashmere Co. Alison founded the business in 2014, having noticed that second-hand luxury cashmere wool garments were selling well on her ebay shop. ‘I also discovered that tonnes of textiles end up in landfill sites every year, including items donated to charity shops for good causes,’ she recalls. ‘I believe that we throw away much too much as a society, so the idea of re-using clothes that would otherwise be dumped really appealed to me.’
Alison travels the world to source her stock – her handpicked suppliers remain a closely guarded secret – and in the UK she has a dedicated network of home-based craftspeople who inspect, launder, de-bobble, re-button and repair each individual garment so that everything is presented in immaculate condition. Nothing goes to waste; even the material in clothing that can’t be salvaged is transformed into scarves, beanie hats, gloves, mittens and hot water bottle covers.
While cashmere is very expensive when new, the all-season pieces featured on the Nearly New Cashmere Co website sell for a fraction of the cost of full retail prices. In non-lockdown times, Alison also takes pop-up shops on Portobello Road and hosts house parties in London (for the moment, all sales are being conducted online and there are no delays in delivery). If you would like to treat yourself to some soft, warm cashmere knitwear, look no further…
Nearly New Cashmere Co
01765688991
ali@nearlynewcashmere.co.uk
https://www.nearlynewcashmere.co.uk
https://www.instagram.com/nearlynewcashmere
https://www.facebook.com/nearlynewcashmere/
Nearly New Cashmere Co
01765688991
ali@nearlynewcashmere.co.uk
https://www.nearlynewcashmere.co.uk
https://www.instagram.com/nearlynewcashmere
https://www.facebook.com/nearlynewcashmere/