A CHARITY clothes shop has helped out a Third World project after enjoying a customer boom on opening its doors.

Trade at the Emporium of Loveliness has been so brisk in its first three months after setting up in the Tented Market that it has been able to increase its contribution to Empower the Gambia, which supports a number of projects in the West African country.

A stream of customers have flooded through the doors, helping the charity to buy and install a freezer at the Sara Kunda Women’s Centre in Gambia.

The Emporium is an outlet for goods created by the centre, but a minimum of 20 per cent of the cost of every item sold from goes directly to support Empower projects.

Jo Heaven, Empower founder, said: “The Emporium of Loveliness, the newest charity shop based in the Tented Market, has been going from strength to strength with lots of customers discovering boutique fashion at charity shop prices.

“So much so that we have been able to purchase transport from Banjul the capital of Gambia to take a brand new freezer to Sara Kunda Women’s Centre in rural Gambia.

“Now the women can make bags of water into ice blocks to sell to the local families. This means that food can be kept cool where temperatures reach 35C, which is impossible when there is no mains electricity. The women at Sara Kunda have a means of generating income and keeping food cool, thereby saving lives.”

The charity has come a long way since it was first founded. As well as selling pre-loved and vintage items it stocks Bunny Pumpkin Boutique shoes, Kiss Me Kate jewellery, Artkore mosaics and a range of shabby chic furniture, cards and bags for local artisans as well as the range of new, designer, retro and quirky fashion and homeware.

Visitors can also have their senses assaulted with the colours and displays in the shop, which are currently along a jungle theme with a parrot cage sprayed orange decorated with toy snakes, monkeys and birds.

“When we first started raising money for Empower we were going to car boot sales and selling items,” said Ms Heaven.

“Then we started holding fashion nights and pop-up shops every so often, which grew and grew in popularity.

“We started hosting weekend events at The Core and at Harris + Hoole, and it eventually dawned on us that we needed something bigger and more permanent.”

Visit www.facebook.com/EmpowertheGambia.