London's coolest designer car boot sale is coming back

#SheInspiresMe is the annual car boot sale where you can pick up designer finds and raise money for Women For Women International. Mark Saturday 12th May in your diary and prepare to shop!

Words by Victoria Fell

Car boot sales haven’t always had the most glamorous image, but Women for Women International are making sure that the car boot reputation for porcelain cats and battered VHS tapes is firmly confined to history.

On Saturday 12th May, their annual #SheInspiresMe Car Boot Sale returns, this time taking place in Brewer Street Car Park in Soho, with all proceeds going to Women for Women International. The event, hosted by Alex Eagle and The Store and sponsored by THE OUTNET, has increased its capacity this year in order to accommodate even more shoppers and car boots, which will be stuffed with designer clothes, shoes and accessories.

With designer offerings from brands including Vestiaire Collective, Charlotte Olympia Dellal, Temperley London, Maria Kastani and M.i.h jeans among others, it’s no wonder that the #SheInspiresMe boot sale raised over £159,000 for Women for Women International in 2017. And this year is set to be bigger and better than ever.

On top of car boots overflowing with designer pieces, shoppers can get pampered at pop-up stalls by Charlotte Tilbury, ELEMIS and SASSOON, as well as enjoying food and drink from some of London’s hottest bars and restaurants.

Women for Women International supports women survivors of war and those living in the some of the world’s most dangerous places, as well as giving them the opportunity to rebuild their lives and inspire hope for the future. They have helped more than 462,000 women affected by conflict, in eight different countries, since 1993.

The #SheInspiresMe campaign was launched by Women for Women International in 2016 in recognition of the unprecedented levels of violence against women and the huge number of global conflicts worldwide. The campaign seeks to highlight the urgent need for more funding in order to provide practical skills and knowledge to women who have suffered trauma caused by warfare. This support means that they are able to rebuild their own lives, and also secure a more positive future for both themselves and their family.

The charity's director Brita Fernandez Schmidt said, ‘It is incredible to see how much the #SheInspiresMe Car Boot Sale has grown. I am so grateful to all of our contributors for participating in this incredible event – the chicest car boot sale ever! - and creating real change for women survivors of war.’

For more details on the event, visit the Women for Women International website here.

The #SheInspiresMe Car Boot Sale in aid of Women For Women International takes place on Saturday 12th May 2018, 1pm-5pm at Brewer Street Car Park, Brewer Street, London, W1F 0LA. Tickets cost £10 and are available online.