A new thrift shop in Somerset West is doing more than offering great finds. Thrift & Thrive is empowering women through retail training, dignity, and hope.
Somerset West, South Africa (09 July 2025) – In Somerset West, a brand-new thrift shop called Thrift & Thrive is doing exactly that. While its rails are stocked with pre-loved fashion, what makes this space truly special is what happens behind the scenes: it’s a retail training centre helping women build brighter futures, one sale at a time.
The idea is simple but powerful. Every six weeks, Thrift & Thrive takes in two women, referred to as beneficiaries, and trains them in the nuts and bolts of retail. From customer service to sales, sorting stock and handling tills, it’s a crash course in empowerment designed to help women move confidently into formal employment. And while they’re learning, they’re earning too, receiving a daily stipend that’s well above minimum wage.
“Many of these incredible women haven’t had the best of luck in life,” the team shared. “We want this to be a turning point for them.”
The model is built on more than charity; it’s built on dignity. The space doesn’t just provide work experience, it offers hope, mentorship, and a reminder that growth can happen in the most unexpected places… even a little thrift shop. Powered by the Empathologist Foundation and Khethani Women’s Wellness, the goal is simply to uplift women who have faced too much hardship in their lives.
Not only are women given a chance to empower themselves, but in terms of retail therapy, they can shop for clothing for themselves or their children through the voucher system, too. This is just another way of helping women land back on their feet.
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For public shoppers, it’s a win-win. You can find a great outfit or something special for your home, knowing your money is going directly towards helping someone thrive. It’s guilt-free shopping in the best way possible.
Thrift & Thrive joins the growing network of purpose-driven second-hand stores across South Africa that are rewriting the story of retail. These spaces give people an affordable, ethical alternative to fast fashion, and now, thanks to projects like this one, they’re also giving women the tools to rebuild their lives.
If you’re in the Somerset West area, consider popping in, not just to browse the racks, but to support a movement that proves fashion can be about more than what you wear. It can be about how you care.
You can find Thrift & Thrive at 63 Caledon Street, Somerset West, Western Cape. If you would like to follow along, you can find the shop on Instagram and Facebook.
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