Labels for Lives was launched on May 11 at the made-over Designer Depot, which has a new home in the refurbished Lampworks on Clyde Street in Hamilton North.

Manager of retail operations for Lifeline Hunter Central Coast Jason Fox said Labels for Lives was about changing the way people “gift” high-end fashion to support life saving services in the community.

“Everybody has one piece in the wardrobe that we love, we paid a lot of money for it but it hurts us to wear it and it hurts us to put it in a charity bin to end up being sold for a couple of dollars,” Mr Fox said. “We have fashioned-focused staff who understand fabric and design and we’re asking people to gift that one piece to Lifeline; we’ll press it and steam it and we’ll price it accordingly and sell it for suicide prevention and crisis support services.”

The funds raised through the Designer Depot, which retails up-market clothing and accessories, will stay in the region.

“It’s local people helping local people,” he said.

“It’s also about sustainable fashion. Fashion/clothing is the second highest international polluter behind oil … but cheap fashion is unsustainable.

“It’s about good quality clothing that can find a new home and also be of benefit to the community.”

The Designer Depot is open seven days a week from 10am to 3pm. 

Mr Fox said trained, passionate fashionistas were available to style shoppers for an amazing label look at bargain prices. 

This month, people who gift a fashion label at the Designer Depot will receive 20 per cent off any items they then purchase that day.  

There is also the option of offering pieces on consignment. More information can be obtained through 4940 2000.

People can gift their label at the Designer Depot or Lifeline stores in Cardiff, Raymond Terrace or Wyoming on the Central Coast.  

Suicide rates at reportedly at a 10-year high. Lifeline relies on revenue from its various stores to help fund its telephone crisis support and face-to-face counselling services.