Smart Works Charity: Clothing & Coaching for Unemployed Women

Posted by hassan.c@like.digital BigCommerce on 29th Sep 2023

Polly McMaster and Kate Stephens wearing The Fold at Smart Works Offices
Polly McMaster and Kate Stephens wearing The Fold at Smart Works Offices
Polly McMaster and Kate Stephens wearing The Fold at Smart Works Offices

Polly McMaster, CEO and founder of The Fold; Kate Stephens, CEO of Smart Works.

Polly McMaster, CEO and founder of The Fold;

Kate Stephens, CEO of Smart Works.

Fold logo and Smart Works logo

THE FOLD X SMART WORKS

When she rises,
we all rise

“We want all women to feel their best in those professional moments where everything matters,” says our founder and CEO Polly McMaster. That’s why, when the opportunity arose to partner with Smart Works more than seven years ago, it was a no-brainer for The Fold to get involved. A charity supporting unemployed women to get the job and transform their lives, Smart Works uses fashion to help them gain confidence and reach their potential – an ethos completely aligned with our own.

 

To date, the charity has supported more than 32,000 women into employment, providing them with an expert coaching session and a high-quality outfit to wear to job interviews. At The Fold, we support Smart Works through fundraising and by donating luxury clothing for women to wear on their journey to getting the job – and to celebrate the charity’s 10th anniversary, you can now drop your own pre-loved clothes off at our Chelsea store and we’ll do the rest.

“We want all women to feel their best in those professional moments where everything matters,” says our founder and CEO Polly McMaster. That’s why, when the opportunity arose to partner with Smart Works more than seven years ago, it was a no-brainer for The Fold to get involved. A charity supporting unemployed women to get the job and transform their lives, Smart Works uses fashion to help them gain confidence and reach their potential – an ethos completely aligned with our own.

 

To date, the charity has supported more than 32,000 women into employment, providing them with an expert coaching session and a high-quality outfit to wear to job interviews. At The Fold, we support Smart Works through fundraising and by donating luxury clothing for women to wear on their journey to getting the job – and to celebrate the charity’s 10th anniversary, you can now drop your own pre-loved clothes off at our Chelsea store and we’ll do the rest.

“We want all women to feel their best in those professional moments where everything matters,” says our founder and CEO Polly McMaster. That’s why, when the opportunity arose to partner with Smart Works more than seven years ago, it was a no-brainer for The Fold to get involved. A charity supporting unemployed women to get the job and transform their lives, Smart Works uses fashion to help them gain confidence and reach their potential – an ethos completely aligned with our own.

 

To date, the charity has supported more than 32,000 women into employment, providing them with an expert coaching session and a high-quality outfit to wear to job interviews. At The Fold, we support Smart Works through fundraising and by donating luxury clothing for women to wear on their journey to getting the job – and to celebrate the charity’s 10th anniversary, you can now drop your own pre-loved clothes off at our Chelsea store and we’ll do the rest.


‘Our aligned values and mission ensure even more women feel empowered in the workplace.’

— Kate Stephens, CEO of Smart Works

— Kate Stephens, CEO of Smart Works


Donate your pre-loved clothes and accessories and help transform lives  

Donate your
pre-loved clothes and accessories and help transform lives  

From dresses to suiting, everything at The Fold is made to last – combining the highest-quality fabrics with innovative, durable design. That means our pieces can enjoy several lifetimes and look and feel beautiful for years.

 

Do you have any pre-loved items in your wardrobe that are interview-appropriate or could be sold at a fundraising sale? If so, drop them off at our Chelsea store and we’ll do the rest. Not local? Simply take them to a Smart Works drop-off point, or box them up and send them to Smart Works via the post office.

We’ve partnered with Malaika on this 23⁠-⁠piece style edit, curated and styled by Noëlla to cater to every important event in your diary. From cocktail parties to investment meetings, these styles will ensure you always look and feel your most confident self.

 

Our Event Style Edit, in collaboration with Noëlla Coursaris Musunka, has raised £5,000 for the Malaika foundation.

We’ve partnered with Malaika on this 23⁠-⁠piece style edit, curated and styled by Noëlla to cater to every important event in your diary. From cocktail parties to investment meetings, these styles will ensure you always look and feel your most confident self.

 

Our Event Style Edit, in collaboration with Noëlla Coursaris Musunka, has raised £5,000 for the Malaika foundation.

Polly McMaster and Kate Stephens wearing The Fold in Smart Works dressing room

 

69%

of Smart Works clients are successful in the first month of their visit.

 

69%

 

69%

of Smart Works clients are successful in the first month of their visit.

of Smart Works clients are successful in the first month of their visit.

Smart works clients wall with a fold dress
Polly McMaster and Kate Stephens wearing The Fold in Smart Works dressing room


Smart works client receiving help from volunteer

How you can support Smart Works

To date, The Fold has raised more than £30,000 in funds for Smart Works. We want to see this figure grow even more in the coming years – and to do that, we need your help.

For more information about Smart Works, donating clothes to the charity, volunteering, fundraising or for details on running your own virtual clothing drive, please visit the

 Smart Works website.

how you can support smart works

How you can support Smart Works

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

To date, The Fold has raised more than £30,000 in funds for Smart Works. We want to see this figure grow even more in the coming years – and to do that, we need your help.

 

For more information about Smart Works, donating clothes to the charity, volunteering, fundraising or for details on running your own virtual clothing drive, please visit the Smart Works website.