Never underestimate the power of Oxfam!

Just a few months ago the charity chain launched the fashion amnesty. Now they’re outdoing even themselves by opening three designer boutiques, the first having just opened at Westbourne Grove.

Oxfam has enlisted the help of seven of the UK’s most influential young designers to assist in launching their one-off creations, which are currently up for a bidding war on eBay for the next ten days.

The seven re-worked pieces, produced from donated duvets and evening gowns, have been created by trendsetters Giles Deacon, Henry Holland, Christopher Kane, Jonathan Saunders, Richard Sorger, Jens Laugesen, and Stephen Jones. How lucky are we?

And as if it wasn’t evident enough all money raised will be donated to help fight poverty around the world.

However, this event would not be possible if Oxfam hadn’t pulled in fashion guru Jane Shepherdson, the outstanding Brand Director of High Street women’s wear phenomenon Topshop.

As the creative consultant for Beating poverty with Style she stated: “These boutiques are all about creating a great shopping experience. Oxfam has always been a place where stylish people hunt for interesting items to create their look; the boutiques are set to make that even easier.”

The seven unique pieces will not be available at the actual boutiques. Instead all stores will house five individual categories as their shop themes: high-quality donated clothes, fair trade fashion (including the labels: People Tree, Green Knickers, Casa Copenhagen, and Wright and Teague), reinvented pieces by young designers and London College of Fashion, accessories made by volunteers, and clothes made from organic, recycled, or alternative fabrics.

“Our customers have told us they want a more contemporary shopping experience, and these new shops are set to turn the traditional concept of an Oxfam shop on its head”, Barbara Stocking, Chief Executive of Oxfam has stated.

Expect the two other designer Oxfam boutiques to open across London in 2009, but for reference here are the addresses to rush to now: 245 Westbourne Grove, London W11; 123a Shawfield Street (Kings Road), London SW3 (to open later this summer), and 190 Chiswick High Road, London W4.

By Marleny Centellas-Venegas