Welcome to the Emporium of Loveliness
Clothes and more...
If you have a passion for beautiful clothes, retro fashion, quirky designs and unusual fabrics as well as jewellery, lingerie and accessories for ladies, men and children, along with a range of soft furnishings and home ware items then you will love The Emporium of Loveliness charity boutiques.
We have shops in Swindon, Marlborough, Bristol, Stroud and Malmesbury and attend community events, retro fairs and festivals.
All our profits, gift aid raised on donations and our collection pot funds go straight to Empower the Gambia (charity no 1161200). Additionally any donations suitable for our libraries, schools, medical centres and gardens are sent out in quarterly shipments to support women and children projects in rural Gambia.
Visit our
depop
shop
About Us
Swindon
Starting with car boot sales, pop up events and fashion nights to raise funds for Empower the Gambia, Jo opened the first charity boutique in the Tented Market in 2015.
The Emporium of Loveliness quickly established itself as a unique charity shop experience – fabulous fashions, real vintage clothing and all at ‘cheap as chips’ prices. We became popular with students, forever 40s and the retro fans as well as those people who love a bargain!
After loosing a battle to save the Tented Market we moved to Commercial Road, Swindon expanding our range and developing the mantra “Brand new, designer, retro and quirky” along with a superb vinyl collection and a reputation for the unusual.
We closed this shop in 2018 to concentrate on our other shops and the charity.
Marlborough
We took a leap of faith and opened our second shop in Marlborough in 2016. Upstairs is our wedding and formal wear along with a recently expanded homeware department while downstairs we have a huge selection of books, collectable and casual fashions.
We have some fabulous supporters, donors and customers and we provide work experience for Marlborough College and St Johns School students.
Malmesbury
2017 saw the opening of our smallest shop in Malmesbury but with an amazing spiral staircase and a quirkiness that only Malmesbury can offer.
With the WOMAD festival and a home grown party atmosphere our shop became very popular with Malmesbury residents as well as those travelling from further afield. We expanded the shop in 2020 when the neighbouring unit became available and this now has our second wedding and formal wear department as well as a wide range of vinyl, dvds and books.
Clifton , Bristol
In 2019, Jo’s daughter Cherry opened the Clifton shop in the heart of Bristol’s student zone.
Two floors of vintage, festival, quirky and streetwear was a magnet for the alternative fashion scene that thrives in Bristol. We have a steady stream of Fashion and Art students from the local universities who love our unique stock.
Cherry runs the shop with Ellen so its a constant party atmosphere!
Stroud
2020 saw the opening of Stroud and It quickly established itself with the Stroud fashionistas!
Haberdashery, vinyl, books and DVDs are on offer along with a fabulous range of brand new, designer, retro and quirky fashions.
and back to Swindon...
We were pleased to re-establish ourselves in Swindon town centre in 2020 and have been amazed at the positive response to our shop. The shop is rent free on a 3 year lease and we have moved our depot to the third floor which keeps us very fit Its like we have never been away!
Contact Us
We love to hear from you...
Our contact details
- 07771 804365
- [email protected]
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The Emporium of Loveliness
29 The Parade
Swindon
Wiltshire
SN1 1BB
United Kingdom
Volunteer
We love our volunteers!
If you can spare an hour or more a week we would love to hear from you. Helping out in our Swindon depot, sorting clothes in the shop, a spot of ironing, taking part in our regular photo shoots or even coming along to help at our pop up shops at retro fairs, festival and community events – there is something for everyone!
Swindon Depot
Retro Fairs
Festivals
Community Events
Support Us
Donations – we love to receive your unwanted items into our shops. The best get sold in our shops, those suitable for our Gambian projects get sent out in quarterly shipments and the worst get recycled so nothing goes to waste!
Items need for Gambia:
- Educational materials – books, stationery, computers, teaching aids
- Medical equipment, first aid materials and medicines (in date in sealed packaging please)
- Sports equipment and kit
- Garden tools, organic gardening books, livestock rearing books
- Good quality bras, t-shirts, children’s clothes and shoes
- Bike parts
- Hand tools
- Sewing equipment including sewing machines (they get serviced for free before being sent out)
- Plastic crockery for school dining halls
Our Shops
Marlborough
Unit C Hilliers Yard, SN8 1BE
Open Tues-Sat: 10.30am – 4.30pm
Sun: 11am – 4pm
Swindon
29 The Parade, SN1 1BB
Open Mon-Sat: 10.30am – 4.30pm
Stroud
48 High Street, GL5 1AN
Open Mon-Sat: 10am – 4pm
Malmesbury
44 High Street, SN16 9AT
Open Mon-Sat: 10am - 4pm
Bristol
66 Alma Road, BS8 2DJ
Open Mon-Sat: 10am – 5pm
Fund Raising
Hold a cake sale? Sponsored walk? Car boot sale? Music event?
If you would like to run a fundraising event for Empower the Gambia we can help you with fundraising ideas, templates, publicity materials and as much support as you need to make your event go well.
