Australian fashion charity Thread Together has announced its new principal partner, Afterpay.
The partnership will see Afterpay and Thread Together able to further support vulnerable Australians who have been impacted by COVID-19 as well as the bushfire crisis that occurred in January.
Taking donations of excess stock from fashion retailers such as The Iconic, P.E Nation and Retail Apparel Group, Thread Together then sorts, picks and packs the clothes for purpose and then sends them to Australians in need.
With Afterpay's support, Thread Together will receive a fundraising boost, with Australian Afterpay customers able to opt-in to donate $1 to the organisation at checkout.
As principal partner, Afterpay will also ensure that Thread Together receives a minimum of $200,000 each year.
Thread Together CEO Anthony Chesler said that Afterpay's support will allow it to help more people across Australia.
"More than three million people are experiencing vulnerability of basic human rights such as shelter, food and clothing.
"As a result of the pandemic, this number is rising with individuals, families and communities needing increased support.
"It has been an honour to work with so many local and global brands and redistribute clothing that would otherwise have gone to landfill to Australians in need.
"Today, Thread Together is providing brand-new clothes to approximately 1500 people each week and we are absolutely thrilled to be partnering with Afterpay whose support will enable us to further increase the number of people that we can help," he said.
Afterpay CEO Anthony Eisen added that the business is thrilled to support the charitable cause.
"We are thrilled by our partnership with Thread Together as it allows us to directly help Aussies who are impacted by COVID-19 and the recent bushfires who may be struggling to get the clothes they need for themselves or their families this winter.
"The partnership also provides help to our merchants by providing a sustainable solution for excess stock and helps the environment by preventing clothing from ending up as landfill," he said.