Cherry Matthews is organizing a Halloween costume swap shop from her art workspace in Washington, Sunderland, aiming to alleviate the financial burden on parents during the autumn season. The initiative allows families to select children’s costumes while also providing an opportunity to donate outfits that are no longer needed.
With five children of her own, Matthews recognizes the costs associated with Halloween costumes and hopes to simplify the process for other parents. Inspired by a company that offers reusable tableware for parties, she believes that such a concept could be beneficial in her local community.
Matthews noted that social media can create pressure for parents to purchase multiple Halloween outfits each year. She highlighted the common sentiment among children to have different costumes for various events, which can lead to increased spending.
The response to the costume shop has been positive, with several individuals reaching out who were previously unaware of the arts space. Children attending art classes have expressed excitement about the selection of costumes available.
Matthews emphasized that this model could be easily replicated by others interested in similar initiatives. She encouraged groups of friends with children to discuss what costumes they have available and facilitate swaps, fostering a community-oriented approach to Halloween celebrations.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp856d0pmpdo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss