This August, Vintage with Love will launch The Big Week, an exciting evolution of one of the city’s most anticipated annual fundraising events. Combining the long-running Big Sale with the debut of the Big Show, the initiative promises to unite thousands of shoppers, volunteers, donors, partners and changemakers around one shared mission: using fashion to create brighter futures.
Hosted at the Cape Town Cruise Terminal, with the Big Show taking place at Beluga above the terminal, The Big Week is more than a shopping event. It is a celebration of sustainable fashion, conscious consumption and the extraordinary impact that can grow from everyday acts of generosity.
A Vision That Began More Than a Decade Ago
Founded by Leigh Ord and Jacquie Myburgh, Vintage with Love was built on a simple yet powerful idea: pre-loved clothing can become a force for positive change.
Over the past decade, that vision has grown into a movement that has raised millions of rand for literacy and education-focused charities across South Africa while encouraging consumers to embrace more sustainable fashion choices.
Each year, thousands of donated garments are given a second life, helping reduce textile waste while generating vital funding for educational programmes that continue to make a lasting difference in communities across the country.
Today, that original mission remains as relevant as ever.
Introducing The Big Week
This year’s expansion reflects Vintage with Love’s desire to grow its impact even further.
According to Taylea du Toit, Senior Marketing Manager at Vintage with Love, The Big Week was inspired by the organisation’s belief that even the smallest actions can create meaningful change.
“This year, we wanted to take something big that we’ve been doing for years and make it even bigger.”
She explains that while Vintage with Love remains a small team, its ambitions continue to grow.
“We’re a small team with big dreams, working towards an even bigger impact. Every day we see how small acts can create a BIG impact. How one donated dress, one purchased shirt or one person choosing to get involved can create a ripple effect far greater than they realise. That’s the thinking behind The Big Week.”
Tracey Butler, Managing Director of Vintage with Love, adds that the week is ultimately a celebration of the generosity and shared purpose that have helped the organisation thrive.
“It’s a celebration of the community, generosity and shared purpose that make this work possible, and our biggest opportunity yet to raise funds for the causes we care about.”
Fashion with Purpose
While sustainability often focuses on reducing environmental impact, Vintage with Love believes it also includes creating lasting social change.
Every garment purchased during The Big Sale extends the life of clothing while helping fund literacy and education programmes that empower young South Africans.
By connecting conscious fashion with meaningful fundraising, the organisation demonstrates how purchasing pre-loved clothing can contribute to stronger communities and brighter futures.
The Big Show Debuts
The first major event of The Big Week is The Big Show, taking place on Thursday, 20 August 2026.
Developed in partnership with Bridget Pickering of Ruff Tung/Therapy Boutique, the fundraising fashion show will bring together South African designers, local brands and industry changemakers who are actively promoting sustainability within fashion.
Beyond showcasing creative talent, the event aims to encourage conversations about the future of sustainable fashion while raising additional awareness and funding for Vintage with Love’s education initiatives.
The Big Sale Returns
Following the fashion show, the much-loved Big Sale returns during the final weekend of August.
For more than ten years, the event has transformed donated fashion into funding for literacy and education initiatives while giving thousands of quality garments a second chance.
According to Debbie Smarts, Head of Fundraising at Vintage with Love, every contribution helps create meaningful opportunities.
“Every item donated, every ticket purchased and every garment sold helps fund literacy and education programmes that change lives. What might feel like a small action to one person becomes books in classrooms, opportunities for children and brighter futures for communities. That’s what makes this week so powerful.”
Event Dates
The Big Show
Thursday, 20 August 2026
Time: 6:00 PM
The Big Sale
Thursday, 27 August 2026
- VIP Opening Night & First Access
- Shopping: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Friday, 28 August 2026
- 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday, 29 August 2026
- 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Sunday, 30 August 2026
- 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
A Week That Celebrates Purpose
The Big Week serves as a reminder that meaningful change rarely begins with grand gestures.
Instead, it grows through countless individual actions—a donated dress, a purchased ticket, a volunteer offering their time or a shopper choosing pre-loved fashion over fast fashion.
When thousands of people come together with a shared purpose, those small actions become something much greater.
For anyone who believes fashion should create impact beyond the runway, The Big Week offers an opportunity to support sustainability, strengthen education and celebrate the power of community—all in one unforgettable week.
Tickets for Vintage with Love’s The Big Week 2026 are now available.
