Celebrating National Op Shop Week

Even better, when that bargain is a unique item from yesteryear and its purchase supports charity and benefits the environment. 

This week is the sixth annual National Op Shop Week (August 27 to September 2).

It will be a celebration of vintage threads, unbelievable bargains, supporting charities, volunteer labour and the environmental benefits of recycling. 

During the week, op shops across the nation are encouraging more people to shop second hand, donate unwanted clothes and think about the environmental impact of their purchases. 

In 2016, Salvation Army stores alone reported they diverted 30,000 tonnes of donated items from landfill.

Australians are the world's second largest consumers of textiles, buying on average 27 kilograms of new clothing and other fabrics each year. 

Lorraine Gregory and Christine Frame have been volunteering at Father Chris Riley’s Youth Off The Streets (YOTS) op shop in Bowral for the last five years.

The funds raised from sales at the second-hand store go toward supporting vulnerable young people facing the challenges of homelessness, drug and alcohol dependency, exclusions from school, neglect and abuse.

Although Ms Frame said the YOTS op shop is always bustling, the women hope to see more people through their doors throughout the week to give a second life to clothing and other items that might otherwise go to waste.