I visited the Leeds charity shop where you can buy trousers for 99p
Between the cost of living and the growth of fast fashion, finding cheap, high-quality clothes can be a notoriously difficult feat.
Social media shoving trends upon you can lead to the overconsumption of cheap, low-quality clothing that often doesn’t last one wash. Meanwhile, the prices of High Street brands that are “built to last” are often too pricey to justify for the average household.
Charity shops have always been fantastic at bridging this gap: Traditionally, they are places where sturdy clothing can be bought without an exorbitant price tag.
However, with the growth of online resale platforms such as Vinted and Depop, and with the cost of living crisis to contend with, charity shops have been struggling to keep their costs as low as they were previously famed for.
In fact, the Charity Retail Association’s Quarterly Market Analysis showed that income growth for charity shops has slowed significantly, with profit margins increasing by around 3.5% in some periods during 2025. However, there is one Leeds charity shop that is going against the grain, promising its shoppers the low prices it has always been known for.
St Gemma’s Hospice is a local, independent charity and has been providing expert care to the people of Leeds for almost 50 years. With over 15 stores, the team is particularly proud of their “£1 price points.” Speaking to YorkshireLive, Digital Marketing Manager Natalie Clince explained why St Gemma’s had been determined to keep costs down.
Natalie said: “At St Gemma’s, charity retail is a vital part of how we fund hospice care for people across the city. Our retail operation turns over around £5m each year, with approximately £1.2m going directly towards hospice care. We work hard to balance affordability, accessibility and sustainability across very different communities, operating across a wide range of price points – including two shops focused specifically on items priced under £1.”
Of course, I had to take a look myself, so I headed out to meet Natalie in person. After showing me around the Meanwood store, I was challenged to put together an outfit for less than £10.
While I was “shopping,” Natalie talked to me about some of the initiatives the charity has to make the shop accessible. For example, Natalie told me about how sizing can really impact cost. Natalie said: “In a few of our stores, clothes that can really vary in size – for example, skirts – will be sold at just 99p”.
Unfortunately, I was unable to locate any “steals” of that calibre in my size; however, I did eventually manage to put together a really nice corporate get-up, which included a UNIQLO jumper for £3.99 and a good-quality office shirt from George for £3.99 as well.
Trousers were a bit trickier (I am blaming my waist), so while I found the perfect skirt for £1.99 that would have kept me under budget, or another for £2.99 that would have done me just as well, I eventually settled on a pair of slacks for £3.99 – tipping the total to £11.97.
It goes without saying that being able to go a little over budget is a privilege; however, I feel it is a fair point that, when you are putting together an outfit, everything has to match somewhat.
If I had wanted to purchase the cheapest top, jumper, and trousers, I would probably have spent no more than £3.99. How wearable it would have been would have been another matter entirely. Often, when I visit a charity shop, I look at how one piece would add to my wardrobe; starting from scratch is quite tricky indeed.
However, when shopping for occasions – for example, work interviews, new jobs, or even just for nice clothes – I think finding a complete, wearable, and high-quality three-piece for less than £12 is definitely a bargain.
Overall, while I can’t claim to be the next Gok Wan, I can say that shopping at St Gemma’s Meanwood store was easier than most. I highly recommend visiting the trousers section – particularly if you have growing teens in need of school uniforms that they can wear four times and then grow out of. Also, the majority of their sturdy shoes – including branded ones like Regatta – were also less than £10.
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