Residents of the small town of Wilcannia can now shop locally for affordable and stylish clothes at the town’s new recycled clothing store.

CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes has established the social enterprise within its branch office in Reid Street.

The Wilcannia fashion store Cooee Clothing had its first trading days earlier this month and attracted residents needing a wardrobe refresh. The social enterprise stocks recycled clothing for women, children, and men, and a small selection of accessories and gift items.

CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes CEO Anne-Marie Mioche said the organisation had started the recycled fashion store to meet a community need as clothing is an essential item but until now there’s been no local shop selling clothing, We have started this store within our branch to make quality clothing available at an affordable price.

The recycled clothing store complements another CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes Cooee social enterprise. Cooee Cuts is an affordable hair salon that operates one week every month from the CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes branch office.

The Cooee social enterprises are funded by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet Office for Women and Catholic charity Mary Ward International Australia.

The initiatives provide training for women and girls in the areas of life skills and job readiness, in communities that often lack those opportunities.

“In our first days of trade we have received great feedback about the quality, range and pricing of items for sale,” Ms Mioche said.

“Community members have also had the chance to say hello to our social enterprise assistant Merica, who has been recruited for the fashion store.”

Cooee Clothing is open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10am to 4pm in normal weeks, and during the Cooee Cuts week of each month, Cooee Clothing will open four days a week.

This article appeared in Wilcannia News, September 2023.