Forgotten Vintage is a Birmingham-based vintage and retro charity shop raising funds to support homeless services across the city run by SIFA Fireside and Reach the People Charity.
The store is based in unit 9 in the Great Western Arcade in Birmingham city centre.
New Lease
15th May 2012
Forgotten Vintage is looking to sign a new lease on its unit within the Great Western Arcade so it can continue to trade in the city centre to raise funds for SIFA Fireside and Reach the People Charity Birmingham-based homeless services as well as offer homeless service users the opportunity to gain work experience and support into employment within the fashion-retail sector.
Kind Regards,
Forgotten Vintage
SIFA Fireside and Trident Reach the People Charity apologise for offence caused by T-shirt posting on social network site
24th April 2012
Following an article in the Sunday Mercury (22nd April 2012), both SIFA Fireside and Trident Reach The People Charity wish to issue the following statement.
We would like to sincerely apologise for any offence caused by the publication of an image of a controversial T-shirt on a social networking site linked to the Forgotten Vintage charity shop and stress that this item has not, and will not, be sold in the shop.
Forgotten Vintage is run independently, with the shop donating funds to the two charities to support our work tackling homelessness in the city.
Both charities are committed to tackling homelessness across Birmingham and we help hundreds of people across the region through support services and providing accommodation so we find this error deeply regretful.
The controversial T-shirt design was created eight years ago during a project in which homeless people were asked to design a branded range of shirts influenced by their experience of homelessness, society's perceptions and life on the streets.
In all, 14 designs were produced with slogans ranging from ‘help the homeless' and ‘down but not out' to more ironic messages portraying the opposite view to capture society's misconceptions and generate publicity.
The homeless people involved in the project also produced a ‘help the homeless' design to reflect both positive and negative views of the issue but the negative statement was deemed too controversial to be put on sale as it could be offensive if taken out of the context of the campaign.
A number of t-shirts left over from the project were donated to Forgotten Vintage and several of the designs were put on sale, but these did not include the T-shirt referred to in the Sunday Mercury article.
The design has never been available for sale in the shop but a picture of the offensive T-shirt was put on its Facebook page on Thursday evening (19th April). The pictures were taken off the Facebook page on Friday afternoon as neither charity had sanctioned this action. We wish to make it clear that the T-shirts have not been, and will not be, sold in the store and they have been removed from the shop's storage facility.
Cath Gilliver, Chief Executive of SIFA Fireside, said: "I was very disappointed that this offensive t-shirt was put on the Forgotten Vintage Facebook page. I'm extremely sorry that this happened and apologise for any offence caused."
Anthony McCool, Charity Lead at Trident Reach, added: "We are deeply regretful that this photograph appeared online and it is understandable it caused offence to supporters of the shop.
"We are delighted by the support given to the charity shop since its opening in November and we would not want this to detract from its excellent achievements to date."
Forgotten Vintage Press Release
10th January 2012
Local businesses come together for a good cause.
When economic times are hard you might be forgiven for thinking that businesses and individuals would be looking purely after their own interest. However when it comes to innovation local businesses are proving that they are ahead of the game in recognising that collaboration and community engagement can deliver more than just business returns delivering real benefits for the local communities in which they live and work.
Earlier this month three local businesses combined their skills and expertise to put together a photoshoot for a vintage pop up shop - Forgotten Vintage. Based in the elegant Great Western Arcade in Birmingham, Forgotten Vintage is a vintage clothing store with a difference. The Proceeds go to two Birmingham based charities, SIFA Fireside and Reach the People Charity, both working to tackle the issue of homelessness in the West Midlands.
Styling the shoot was Miriam Aslam of FashPak, a Birmingham based style consultancy that directed the shoot in collaboration with Esther Woolley from EstherMarie Makeup and Jermane Clarke of iOne Photography.
Rob Smith owner of the beautiful Plough and Harrow Hotel on Hagley Road opened their doors for the day and provided the perfect backdrop to the ''Vintage Glamour'' photoshoot.
Outfit 1 Lauren in the coral maxi dress
Coral and mint are not a colour combination that springs to mind but I think you'll agree it really makes the dress pop! If you don't want to go for the obvious combination of cream or gold, choose a colour in the same shade or palette for a more interesting and eye catching look.
Lauren's beauty shot with jewellery.
Statement jewellery was key to the success of this look maintaining a clean silhouette for easy glamour.
Lauren in the white fur coat
The intriguing thing about vintage clothes are their story....who wore them before and where did they come from? This rabbit fur coat is a family heirloom. It travelled by ship all the way from Canton China when Miriam's great grand Mother emmigrated to England just after the Second world war.
Sharon in the red dress.
This look is old school Hollywood glamour with a modern twist. Sharon's tumbling locks are reminiscent of Hollywood's sirens of years gone by. Her glitter heels that are a hot pick for this years party season keeps this look feeling modern and fresh.
Sharon looks almost regal in our last and final look of the day. The stole and vintage style gems really make this simple nude dress into a stunning evening look.
So if you are looking for some vintage goodness this party season head down to "Forgotten Vintage" in the Great Western Arcade and you can be assured that next time you put something special on you will be putting something back as well.
Article by Miriam Aslam.
Email miriam_aslam@hotmail.com
A Forgotten Vintage Christmas
10th December 2011
Forgotten Vintage has added festive cheer to its shop window in the Great Western Arcade with the addition of fake snow!
Forgotten Vintage in Birmingham Council House
6th December 2011
Forgotten Vintage was invited to talk with Birmingham City Councilors before the main monthly cabinet meeting for the city council about its vintage and retro charity shop, its work to raise funds for homeless services across the city as well as support homeless people to gain employment within the fashion retail sector.
Thank you to Forgotten Vintage volunteer Alice for arranging this.
Even Our Safe Is Vintage
1st December 2011
Forgotten Vintage has kindly been donated an old vintage safe from SIFA Fireside to store all the pennies the shop generates safely to support homeless services across Birmingham.
Forgotten Vintage Sign
30th November 2011
Forgotten Vintage got its sign fit today!
Forgotten Vintage Shop Preview
25th November 2011
Forgotten Vintage held a store preview for the vintage and retro charity shop at its unit in the Great Western Arcade for staff and supporters of Reach the People Charity and SIFA Fireside as well as fans of Shop Manager Carl Franklin.
Special thanks go to Wragge & Co and Kafe 6/8 for helping with the food and refreshments.
Images captured by Forgotten Vintage volunteer Hazel O'Brien - http://hazelobrien.co.uk.
Forgotten Vintage Shop Set-up
22nd November 2011
Forgotten Vintage is spending this week setting up its shop in the Great Western Arcade ready for opening on Saturday 26th November.
Forgotten Vintage Shop Floor
Forgotten Vintage Shop Basement Store
Forgotten Vintage Flyer, Stickers and Launch Poster
20th November 2011
Forgotten Vintage flyer, stickers and launch posters to help market and promote the shop.
Office and Storage Facility Settling In
15th November 2011
Forgotten Vintage has been settling into its new head office and storage facility on Pershore Street in Birmingham city centre.
Forgotten Vintage has been busy cleaning, tidying and arranging the site to support the opening of the store in the Great Western Arcade as well as create the space for volunteers to help support the project and its development.
Forgotten Vintage Flyers and Stickers
10th November 2011
Forgotten Vintage flyers and stickers to help promote and market the store across Birmingham.
Forgotten Vintage Set-up
5th November 2011
Forgotten Vintage is helping to set-up a vintage and retro charity pop-up shop in Birmingham city centre called - based in Unit 9 in the Great Western Arcade.
The store aims to help raise funds to support homeless services across the city.
Forgotten Vintage is looking for a range of volunteers to help support the project.
There is a meeting to discuss the NEW FORGOTTEN VINTAGE STORE and everything surrounding it on TUESDAY 14th November 2011.
Forgotten Vintage have teamed up with two of Birmingham's best known charities SIFA FIRESIDE and REACH THE PEOPLE CHARITY. Between the three parties they want to create a brand to rival some of the biggest names in vintage in the UK.
To create this brand Forgotten Vintage is setting up a shop within the city centre of Birmingham, a studio, an office and warehouse, as well as sending Forgotten Vintage to festivals and other massive events.
Forgotten Vintage is looking for volunteers to help in all aspects of the project:
- Front of house
- Stock management
- Visual merchandising
- Project management
- Photo shoot's
- Styling
- Blog writing
- Events management
- Promotion
- Stock alterations
As this is a charity supported project everyone working for Forgotten Vintage will be volunteering. They want to get a group of committed volunteers to help us make this project successful, this project has massive potential to be a local and national success. All of the volunteers involvement will be documented and will look amazing on CV's and portfolios.
The TUESDAY 14th NOVEMBER 2011 meeting meeting is a chance for people interested in helping support the project to meet a representative from both charities and Forgotten Vintage to ask any questions you might have, for us to tell you a little more about what we do, and to work out how we can help each other.
Please get in touch to confirm you are attending Tuesday's meeting or if you have any questions.
Hopefully see you on TUESDAY 14th NOVEMBER.
Carl Foley - Store Manager
forgotten-vintage@live.co.uk
07564 603 936.
FORGOTTEN VINTAGE
in conjunction with SIFA FIRESIDE and REACH THE PEOPLE CHARITY
forgotten-vintage@live.co.uk
07564 603 936
