14 DAY TRIAL // With an increase of the homeless population around South Africa and especially in the city of Cape Town, locals decided to make an effort and help the ones living on the street by offering them their own one-day-only free clothing shop.
Because of the growing rate of unemployment and drug addictions, the number of homeless people on the streets of Cape Town has been rising to worrying levels. Local authorities have been criticized for their attempt to accommodate the homeless in special areas of the city instead of offering them appropriate assistance.
A Cape Town ad agency together with a local homeless center started working on a campaign meant to ease some of the suffering of those unfortunate enough to live on the streets. They started by asking people for clothing donations in order to give them away in a “street store.”
The garments were hanged up on a street and the homeless were encouraged to browse through them and look for their desired outfit. Hundreds came and took advantage of the one-day all-free store, and not only did they leave with new clothes but they also had a unique shopping experience.
In order for their movement to have a bigger impact, organizers used customized cardboard signs as hangers for the donated attire. The homeless shoppers also had their own personal assistant, that helped them choose the appropriate clothes and then wrapped the three allowed clothing items nicely for them to take away.
Those almost 500 people who visited the “Street Store” ended up leaving the premises as some very happy customers. “This is the first time I had nice clothes. I normally just take what I find on the street,” one 30-year-old homeless man said, notes Daily Maverick.
The people behind the concept, Kayli Levitan and Max Pazak, hope that their idea of an open store for homeless people will spread around African cities and not only. All the information and steps needed in order to set up a street shop are available on the campaign’s official website in order to encourage the “legal theft of the idea.”