It’s almost time for a holiday and as we close out 2024, we find ourselves filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude, for another extraordinary VWL year!
It’s been a beautiful year of growing and giving, and the biggest year yet for Vintage with Love.
Together, we’ve reached a wider audience of second-hand enthusiasts, expanded our VWL offerings to include furniture, watched in awe as the world adapts to a more sustainable fashion world, and strengthened our dedication to positive change in South Africa through powerful contributions to literacy and education.
As always, it’s thanks to your continuous support that Vintage with Love has been able to expand our impact in ways that inspire me every day. This year, you’ve helped us do more than ever before. We’ve hit some remarkable milestones - each of which would not have been possible without our Vintage village; donating, volunteering, sharing, engaging and shopping up a storm.
The continued success of our retail stores: From opening our first permanent store in Cape Town to launching a second store in Melrose, Johannesburg, and expanding with a third permanent retail store in home décor & furniture with Decor for a Difference - we’ve watched our brand grow and evolve.
The Big Sale at the V&A Waterfront: Our much-adored annual event raised over a million rand in just three days! This monumental effort allowed us to fund incredible initiatives that will benefit children and communities across South Africa.
Expansion of our e-commerce platform: We’ve grown our online store, welcoming over 160,000 shoppers to explore gently-worn items, allowing more of you to shop sustainably and give back no matter where you are in South Africa.
Lunching for Literacy: Through this initiative, we’ve had the wonderful opportunity of connecting with individuals in all corners of SA, and contributing to local literacy and education efforts in our shared communities.
Corporate partnerships & community collaborations: We’ve ventured into new partnerships that have extended our reach and increased our fundraising efforts in the corporate world.
Our commitment to compassion: As the world shifts toward a more sustainable fashion world, we’ve been proud to be at the forefront of this movement in South Africa. Vintage with Love has proven that charity and fashion can coexist beautifully, and together, we’ve made second-hand shopping the first choice.
In 2024 we’ve proudly contributed to:
The training of 74 teacher interns through the Realema Teacher Intern Programme, helping to shape the next generation
of educators.
Invaluable extra tuition support for thousands of high school learners through Saturday School, training of 151 teacher interns through the Internship Programme, helping 380 teachers enhance their skills through Teacher Training Workshops, and contributed to scholarships to St Stithians College, all through Thandulwazi Maths and Science Academy.
Scholarships for deserving young adults through the Adele Searl 100 Club, enabling students to pursue their dreams of higher education.
Community impact projects such as making book bags with VWL unsold denim with Green Degree and assisting literacy centres through organisations like Good Hope Literacy Centre, and Learning in Reach.
The much needed renovation of Judah
pre-school in Knysna as well as weekly
extracurricular lessons for thousands of
kids through The Click Foundation.
The physical building of new literacy
spaces in Hermanus with Imibala and
supporting learner programmes in
Plett with Tebelo.
Dictionaries for students, to facilitate
language development and learning,
through Community Assisting Schools
and enabling 1518 hours of extra literacy
lessons for 59 Grade 2 and 3 learners
through Life Matters.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us and for sharing in our vision that, together, we can create a better future for the youth of South Africa.
Thank you for your generosity, your time, your donations, and for shopping with purpose. Every contribution makes a difference - and we are deeply grateful.
Wishing you and your families a wonderful festive season, we’ll see you in 2025!
🎄💫 💕
With love and gratitude,
Tracey van Gass
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