Designer labels and bargain prices don’t often occur together, however, much to the delight of Galway ladies the ‘Buy My Dress’ one day pop-up dress shop will offer this on Saturday May 28 in the g Hotel. With much anticipation the doors will open to the public at 10am with admission free. The Galway event is part of Ireland’s largest one-day charity dress sale 'Buy My Dress' taking place in Galway, Cork, Dublin, Kerry, Mayo, Kilkenny, Wexford and Wicklow in aid of Down Syndrome Centre. Last year over 1,000 dresses were collected in Galway alone and hopes are high for a similarly successful event this time around.
A colourful range of dresses for all occasions from summer holiday wear to cocktail dresses, from high-street fashion to exclusive international designer labels will be on offer, and all have been sorted, sized and priced to sell for the big event on Saturday. New and almost new dresses including wedding gowns, mother of the brides and every day dresses suitable for all shapes and ages are also on offer. The organisers are still appealing for dress donations and will gratefully accept them on Saturday so it is not too late to donate.
Bubbly and pampering are available, a glass of Prosecco and manicure will be on offer for the ladies who want to take their time and enjoy the luxurious surroundings, and you can always make a day of it and enjoy afternoon tea at the g Hotel.
Promising fun and glamour at the event there will be a raffle with prizes including treats, vouchers, hampers and tickets to the Galway Races donated by local businesses including The g Hotel, Fiona Mangan Millinery, Bow Waves Sailing and Powerboat School, Simply Chic Hat Hire, The Make Up Stop, Hotel Clybaun, and Blueprint Coaching and Training. And if that’s not enough, there will be a €5 voucher for Bee Green Dry Cleaners (Briarhill ) with every purchase made on the day.
Máirín O’Reilly, a member of the organising committee said: “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of members of the public in donating dresses for this fundraiser, hundreds of ladies have gone to their wardrobes and passed on their once-loved dresses. Members of the business community organised workplace dress-collections, the g Hotel is supporting our event by providing the venue and the local media are spreading the word and creating awareness of the fundraiser. The event is hugely assisted by a team of volunteers including members of JCI Galway, students from NUI Galway, GTI and members of the public – giving their free time to a great cause.”
Since its humble beginnings in Dublin in 2009, when the charity collected and sold 1,500 dresses in one day, Buy My Dress has gone from strength to strength, adding events in Cork and Galway in 2010, selling 4,000 and nearly doubling its income to €60,000. This year, due to popular demand, Buy My Dress will take place in eight counties where the charity aims to collect between 500 and 1,000 dresses for each of its events, in a bid to sell 6,000 dresses in one day. All monies raised through the campaign go to fund specialist nursing support for new parents of children born with Down Syndrome.
There will be something for everyone on the rails at Buy My Dress with barely worn dresses that normally cost in the region of €200 being sold for between €20 and €50. Many boutiques, designers, and stylists also donate new stock so it is the early bird that catches vintage Dior. BMD also has a huge celebrity following with many well-known ladies such as Imelda May, Cathy Kelly, Sinead Desmond, Miriam O’Callaghan, Katherine Lynch, Anne Doyle, Nuala Carey, and Sybil Mulcahy among those donating their red carpet dresses.
Speaking about the range of fashions donated, Sheila Campbell of the Down Syndrome Centre says: “If you’re looking for an outfit, no matter what occasion, you should make Buy My Dress your first port of call. We have dresses suitable for all age groups, from the very young to the more mature woman, and while some of the dresses may have been worn once or twice, many still have the labels on and deserve a new lease of life.”
Funds raised on the day will go to providing a specialist Down Syndrome Liaison Nurse in the western region linking with maternity hospitals to support to parents of new-borns with Down Syndrome. You can still donate a dress at any of the drop off points which include Peter Mark salons, Unislim classes, Credit Unions, Emily-Jean Designs, 1 Augustine Street, The Huntsman, Bee Green Dry Cleaners, Briarhill, Orla Murray Financial Services, Blueprint Coaching and Training, Terryland and McCambridge’s of Shop Street. Please check www.buymydress.ie for further information. This event has received tremendous support from Galway-based companies and organisations who organised work-place collections in Hewlett Packard, Deparetment of Defence, Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Fás, Aviva as well as business groups including Galway Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Network Galway, Business and Professional Women’s Association and Junior Chamber International Galway.
For more information view www.buymy dress.ie or contact the Galway team on [email protected] or telephone 086 3443161.
