Charity fashion retailer brings pre-loved to Leeds

Pre-loved charity retailer White Rose is opening its first-ever store in Leeds, thanks to a four-week deal secured by leading East Midlands law firm Nelsons.

Located on 77 Albion Street, Leeds White Rose will open its doors on Friday 26th July to savvy shoppers looking for clothing, footwear and accessories from popular high street and designer brands.

The 11,000-square-foot unit will also include an upcycling area and a donation hub, with proceeds going to its partner charity the Aegis Trust, which prevents mass atrocities and crimes against humanity worldwide.

Commercial property specialists Nelsons helped to make this move a reality for the fashion retailer by negotiating the lease within a month to meet the deadline for trading.

Matthew Clarke, commercial property associate at Nelsons who oversaw the transaction alongside partner Riaz Dudhia, said: “White Rose is on a mission to make a more positive impact on the fashion sector and with the rise in popularity of second-hand fashion, the business has been able to progress its ambitious growth plan. The Leeds store is an important part of this.

Shopping leases can often be tricky to navigate and take a lot of time, but we carried out full property legal due diligence and legally negotiated the terms of the lease within one month to meet the trading deadline for liability of revenue, which was vital to get the store open on time.

We have helped White Rose to secure many of its locations through our long-standing relationship, often completing transactions in short timescales. As the business continues to dominate the very much on-trend pre-loved market, we look forward to seeing our partnership continue.”

Started in 2009 by two local university students with a focus on ‘recycled fashion’, White Rose aims to reduce the impact of fast fashion, minimising waste and its subsequent impact on the environment.

This shop is the 15th location for White Rose, with other stores in Nottingham, Beeston, West Bridgford, Derby, Leicester and Sheffield – with many more planned.

Lee Reynolds, White Rose general manager, said: “This store is one of our most ambitious to date, with the largest square foot of any of our stores. Students are a huge part of our target demographic, and with 90,000 students in Leeds, we knew there was a place for White Rose to thrive.

As we become more aware of the impact of fast fashion on the environment, pre-loved has become the popular choice. Our store can offer an alternative to those looking to shop more ethically but still buy quality goods. Our current stores have saved 300,000 kilograms from landfill, and Leeds is set to increase this number by 20 percednt – so there’s no denying that second-hand is the future of fashion for our planet.

With the help of Nelsons, we’re in a position to open our store quicker than anticipated. We’re excited to open the doors to the shoppers of Leeds to find high-quality, second-hand goods, which will help a great charity and the planet.”

The Nelsons commercial property team, which is led by partner Riaz Dudhia who has more than 20 years of experience, advises businesses across the East Midlands with acquisitions, leases and disposals, involving everything from large industrial units to smaller retail shops.