Compassion Fashion: Where Glamour Gives Back

ADFA
Nov 17
2 min read

Swedish media have begun highlighting our newest charity initiative—Compassion Fashion, where gala glamour, fashion, and glitter are transformed into real humanitarian aid. Mitt i Södermalm was the first outlet to report on the project, and the response has been overwhelming.

Inside the new shop on Folkungagatan 65 in Södermalm, clothing racks shimmer with evening gowns, tuxedos, and sparkling, tailor-made pieces once seen on red carpets from New York and Milan to Beirut, Los Angeles, and Stockholm. Many were worn only once—at galas, concerts, award shows, or weddings—and donated by artists, actors, performers, and public figures who want their outfits to have a second life.

“They’re like works of art,” says journalist and human-rights activist Nuri Kino, flipping through a deep-purple gown and a hand-sewn black sequined dress. For more than a decade, while organizing charity galas for ADFA, Nuri has met countless performers willing to donate their unique pieces. “Finally, they get a new life.”

And now, that life helps others.

A New Kind of Giving

Compassion Fashion is an ADFA fundraising project, run entirely by volunteers. Here, anyone can rent or buy exclusive outfits—for the price of a dry cleaning—and know that their choice directly supports people in need. Several dresses and tuxedos have already been booked for the Nobel Banquet, and the demand is growing by the day.

Artist Susanne Cederlund (@s.cederlund_art), who helps run the shop, puts it simply:

“By renting clothes here, you look great while doing something good for someone else.”

In just the first week, the shop received more than 200 donated garments, and today the collection includes over 300 dresses and 40+ tuxedos and suits, in sizes and styles for every occasion—red carpet, gala, wedding, or simply a night out.

Where the Surplus Goes

Every krona of surplus goes directly to ADFA’s humanitarian work:

children and youth in need
the elderly
the homeless
families affected by crises and disasters
vulnerable communities internationally

Because the project is run entirely by volunteers, the impact is immediate and direct. Renting a gown or a suit here can quite literally help put food on the table for someone who needs it.