In a fast-paced world with fast fashion, disposable culture, and an over-growing population of homeless animals in need, initiating a movement of sustainability and welfare is clearly a revolutionary step towards betterment – one where second-hand items find second chances, and animals in need discover a much needed lifeline. At the heart of this is a passionate organiser —, director of Justice for Animals Sri Lanka, Tashiya Captain — whose dedication is admirably exhibited in each thread of fabric and each item on display.
A sale of miscellany
The idea of this campaign was born out of the founder’s inspiration and experience from travelling overseas and by hosting a second-hand book sale which received an enthusiastic response, encouraging her to extend that effort into something much more expansive. While women’s clothing fills up the majority, you could often find a unique assortment of children’s and gent’s wear— ranging from casual wear to occasional wedding sarees and suits.
Tashiya
“It really depends on what people donate — no two sales are the same.”
On the good days you would not miss some household treasures; crockery, cutlery and even vintage ornaments to add to the glamour.
“Once we received some expensive jasperware ornaments as donations,” the founder, Tashiya said. “We have a specialised page to handle such pre-loved items of higher-end, which also features branded clothing labels such as Calvin Klein.”
Donating, shopping and volunteering
Supporting the event does not take a lot; donating gently-used items is always appreciated, but simply dropping off to shop contributes greatly to the cause. “Buying something for yourself and your loved ones help. All proceeds go towards supporting stray animals through vaccinations and sterilisations.”
Previously hosted programs have shown a steadily growing response which encouraged the organisers to continue working on their mission. “People have been enthusiastic, and more are stepping up to donate and volunteer,” she said. “We started really small. But now it’s growing into something much bigger as the community joins us.”
“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”
The initiative of the sale goes beyond just a community project raising funds — it is about promoting a concept of sustainability which gently nudges people to rethink their wasteful consumer habits.
“So many of us have clothes lying around which are of no use to us anymore. It is rewarding to know that they will have a second life before getting dumped somewhere in a landfill – especially when they will help someone else and ultimately support a good cause.”
The items are priced accessibly, making them affordable even for low-income earners. And every now and then, shoppers might just stumble upon a personal favourite brand at a steal.
“It is a lot of work — collecting, washing, ironing, or dry-cleaning each donated piece before it goes on the rack. But knowing someone will see it, love it, and take it home makes it all worthwhile.”
Second hand is not second rate!
The founder also hopes to address and challenge some common misconceptions about second hand shopping. People often rely on the stereotype of second-hand shopping being of poor quality or low budget.
“It is not just about the affordability. It is about saving the resources consumed in producing garments by re-using. It is about aiming for a more sustainable lifestyle. It is indeed gratifying to see second hand shopping becoming a more purposeful selection among people worldwide,” she said.
Second-hand shopping is steadily gaining traction as a more mindful, purposeful choice around the world. While a single sale might not save the planet, small changes collectively pave the way for a bigger impact. Every item bought extends the life of a product, reduces textile waste, and promotes thoughtful consumerism—plus, you might just walk away with a hidden gem.
Every purchase powers a paw
This sale is more than a bargain hunter’s delight. It is more than giving second chances to pre-owned items. What significantly sets this sale apart from the rest is its purpose.
Each rupee earned through the sales goes straight to funding an ongoing vaccination and sterilisation program for stray animals, hosted in Anuradhapura district in collaboration with Vets for Future since 2020, with the aim of controlling the over-growing population of free roaming cats and dogs in the area.
Up to-date, the organisation has successfully sterilised over 14,000 cats and dogs in the area; some brought in from afar, mostly by the low-income families who struggle with providing care for multiple animals.
“There are people who love their pets deeply, but are not within the means of providing proper care for them. I couldnot imagine being in their place,” Tashiya comments. “That is why I push myself a little extra to do better.”
Yet inevitable as it is, challenges remain. “The funding is always tough. Currently we manage to run the sterilisation program once every three months, but within more ideal aspects, we need more rounds,” she said.
A shortage of volunteers is another significant barrier. “If you drop by often, you could recognise the same faces over and over again in the sales.We would be really grateful for more helping hands — every person who gets involved makes a real difference.”
Therefore, no matter whether you are looking for a bargain, hoping to de-clutter your household with purpose, or simply wanting to make a small impact in a big-hearted way, this pop-up sale offers the perfect chance to do all three!
