Vintage with Love launches The Big Week, bringing together sustainable fashion, local designers and fundraising for education
Cape Town’s annual celebration of pre-loved fashion is getting a major upgrade this August, with Vintage with Love expanding its much-loved Big Sale into The Big Week, a new programme combining sustainable fashion, local design and fundraising for literacy and education.
Running from 20 to 30 August, The Big Week will bring together shoppers, designers, volunteers and supporters around a simple idea: that extending the life of clothing can create an impact that reaches far beyond fashion.
The initiative will open with The Big Show on 20 August, a fundraising fashion show created in partnership with Bridget Pickering of Ruff Tung/Therapy Boutique. Taking place at Beluga, above the Cape Town Cruise Terminal, the event will showcase South African brands, designers and creative voices working to push sustainability forward in the local fashion industry.
The Big Sale will then return to the Cape Town Cruise Terminal from 27 to 30 August, offering shoppers the chance to browse thousands of donated pre-loved garments while supporting Vintage with Love’s fundraising work.
Founded more than a decade ago by Leigh Ord and Jacquie Myburgh, Vintage with Love has grown from a community initiative into a South African non-profit that uses donated clothing to raise funds for literacy and education programmes. Over the years, the organisation has raised millions of rand for education-focused charities, while encouraging consumers to rethink the way they buy, wear and dispose of clothing.
Experiencing the creative community
For Vintage with Love, the environmental benefits of pre-loved fashion are only part of the story.
“Every day we see how small acts can create a BIG impact,” says Taylea du Toit, Senior Marketing Manager at Vintage with Love. “One donated dress, one purchased shirt or one person choosing to get involved can create a ripple effect far greater than they realise.”
That connection between environmental and social sustainability is at the heart of The Big Week. Giving clothing a second life helps keep garments in circulation and reduces textile waste, while the money raised through donations, tickets and sales supports literacy and education initiatives.
The Big Week also reflects a growing shift in the fashion industry towards more conscious consumption, where buying pre-loved is not simply about finding a bargain, but about extending the lifespan of clothing and making more considered choices.
“The impact of The Big Week extends far beyond fashion,” says Debbie Smarts, Head of Fundraising at Vintage with Love. “Every item donated, every ticket purchased and every garment sold helps fund literacy and education programmes that change lives.”
For Cape Town visitors, the events offer another way to experience the city’s creative community while supporting a South African cause. And for fashion lovers, The Big Sale remains an opportunity to uncover pre-loved pieces while contributing to a more circular approach to consumption.
The Big Week 2026
The Big Show
20 August 2026, 6 pm
Beluga, Cape Town Cruise Terminal
The Big Sale
Cape Town Cruise Terminal
27 August: Opening Night/VIP First Access, 5 pm–8 pm
28 August: 9 am–6 pm
29 August: 7 am–1 pm
30 August: 9 am–2 pm
Tickets and event information are available through Vintage with Love.
