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Did you miss the preview the EN KA Society held at its resale shop? Don’t worry, the shop is reopening on Sept. 12.
EN KA sells clothing to raise money for its many causes, including giving grants to non-profits in Winchester.
The shop was bustling at its recent Saturday preview, and a Canal Street family was looking for clothes for their little girl.
Daniella Sochet said she loves coming to the shop, “because it’s affordable.” Her mother, Debra, found something for Daniella to wear on the first day of school and she pointed out her daughter is a seventh generation Winchesterite.
Another mother/daughter team from Stoneham were finding lots of things to buy, including some jewelry for mom Seng Rattanasone. Her daughter Sara said she prefers to avoid “fast fashion.” At EN KA, she finds “one of a kind gems.”
“It’s like a treasure hunt,” she said, adding, “I can always find a surprise here.”
Shop co-chair Angela Iverson that the money not only goes to non-profits, but EN KA helps seniors in need with utility bills, for instance.
“We recently helped a family that was devastated by a house fire,” she said. “And we also do Meals on Wheels.”
Iverson would like donors to know what the shop does and doesn’t want.
“We don’t sell bathrobes or pajamas, and no underwear, bathing suits, hats, gloves or baby clothes,” she said.
Some of these rules are based on state requirements, she said. For instance, baby clothes from diaper-wearing children can be a source of contamination.
But they do accept broken jewelry, which they put in small jars and sell to kids who like to make things out of them.
“One time someone donated a fur coat,” said Shop Co-Chair Vanessa Linsey. “We knew it wasn’t likely to sell so we gave it to BonnieJean Butler who sends a lot of our clothes to Ukraine. At the end of the season, BonnieJean takes clothes that didn’t sell up to Savers, which donates the money they make from the clothes to the Epilepsy Foundation, per her request.”
Last year, the shop sold 20,000 pounds of clothes, including what was sold in May where buyers could fill a bag for $5.
Iverson and Linsay are in their second year as co-chairs.
“We wanted the shop to look like a boutique so we had the walls painted white and had new floors put in,” Linsey said. “Thrifting is so hot right now. I don’t know any teenager who doesn’t love to thrift, partly because they’re inspired by social media to help save the environment.”
A lot of buyers “up-cycle” clothes. Linsey herself bought some men’s suiting from the shop and is turning it into fanny packs, which she’ll donate to the shop.
There are new children’s jackets available at times. Right now, they have some donated by the Winchester Country Club.
“Winchester residents are the most generous donors!” Linsey said, pointing out that not only are the clothes “high quality, but we have wildly reasonable prices — cheaper than any other thrift store around.”
