Charity wins with clubbers’ clobber

EVER left your jacket in a Dublin nightclub? If you have, you might find it at the Debra Ireland shop on the North Circular Road.

The charity shop in Phibsboro has a selection of designer gear courtesy of forgetful customers who left their belongings in the city’s nightspots and didn’t return to collect them.

Debra Ireland supports the 300 people in Ireland with the incredibly painful butterfly skin condition EB (epidermolysis bullosa), which causes the skin, both inside and out, to blister and wound at the slightest touch.

This is a special month for the charity with EB Awareness Week from October 21 to 27 and the Northside Debra shop is determined to play its part.

Canny customers can pick up designer gear for a pittance, as all clothes in Debra Ireland shop are half price every Saturday for the month of October.

“People can leave the most fabulous gear behind them after a night out, we get the best of designer labels Barbour, J Crew, Lacoste, Ralph Lauren, to name but a few,” said shop manager Virginia Moore.

Donations from the city’s designer swop shops are also on sale at Debra.

“Places like the Brazilian Dresser bring us stock they don’t have use for, including beautiful tailored shirts, handbags and dresses.”

Keen to get the message out about EB, Virginia will be treating Debra Ireland shoppers to cake and refreshments on the house on Saturday, October 27.

“If they can’t make it to the shop people can help by picking up a Debra Ireland Butterfly Tattoo at any Applegreen station during EB Awareness Week and texting the word BUTTERFLY to 50300 to make a €4 donation,” said Virginia.

Celebrating their first year in business in Phibsboro, the Debra Ireland Shop started out in Camden Street where Virginia developed a good relationship with the nightclubs in nearby Harcourt Street.

“We get lovely men’s jackets and women’s coats, hats, scarves, umbrellas and even shoes. Ladies wear their high heels to the club and then change into flats for the dance floor.

“They forget about their heels in the early hours and eventually we get them.”

The Harcourt Hotel, Copper Faced Jacks and Café en Seine are among the nightspots that have donated lost property to the charity over the years.

Thanks to the club’s forgetful patrons the Debra Ireland shop has developed something of a reputation for fine fashion.

“The Debra shop is known for having the best jackets in Dublin,” says Virginia.

One thing the Debra shop in Phibsboro does need more of is volunteers.

Anyone who would like to volunteer can contact Virginia on 087-2448830.