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Selfridges Has Opened the UK’s First Interfaith Charity Shop

by in Culture & Lifestyle on 20th September, 2017

Selfridges have opened a concession in their luxurious department store for the UK’s first Interfaith charity shop.

The pop-up charity shop is the first of its kind and was created by writer, artist and film maker Miranda July and Artangel. The shop is being run jointly across 4 religious charities: Islamic Relief, Jewish charity Norwood, London Buddhist Centre and Spitalfields Crypt Trust.

Miranda July said “For many years I’ve wanted to make a store as artwork; utilising the inherently participatory conventions of commerce. When I first came to London, in my twenties, I was giddily amazed by the sheer number of charity shops, but it’s only in creating this store with Artangel that I understand what a radically unique economic model they are. The nuances of this come from my faith-based charity shop partners and from the site; Selfridges.”

The proceeds will be split equally between the charities, whose own staff work at the installation. We went to check out the store and spoke to the team. Sarah, from the London Buddhist Centre said that the project united people from different faiths and helped them to identify similarities. They laughed at the shock reaction of those passing the store.

The items in the shop are far from what you would expect to see in Selfridges. The store sells second-hand clothes, books, DVD and bric-a-brac as any good charity shop would; it even has a £1 items corner. The installation is based on the Islamic relief store in Walthamstow. The charity shop is a literal metaphor, challenging the way people shop in the height of consumer culture and reminding us all of the importance of unity.

The interfaith charity pop-up is open until October 22nd in Selfridges, Oxford Street.

Amaliah Team

Amaliah Team

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