Leading high street retailer Topshop is teaming up with Terrence Higgins Trust and fashionistas Bay Garnett and Anita Pallenberg for a unique World AIDS Day event which will raise much-needed funds to help people living with HIV in the UK.  In addition, a celebrity shopping evening for customers will take place on Thursday 2nd December, with 10% of all sales going to Terrence Higgins Trust.

Items for the vintage clothing auction are currently being gathered by Topshop for the Jumbo Thrift Sale.  Requests for clothing have been sent to celebrities, designers and fashion experts.  Top thrifter and stylist Bay Garnett and legendary style icon Anita Pallenberg are working with Topshop to select the best items.

Jane Shepherdson, Brand Director at Topshop said: “This is going to be a fantastic evening.  Topshop’s own Vintage range is a huge success, and we’re hoping for some great pieces of vintage clothing which will generate lots of interest, as well as raising funds for Terrence Higgins Trust.  We’re delighted to be supporting the charity in this way, and it’s an honour to have Bay and Anita working with us on such a worthwhile project.”

Cath Cole, Head of Corporate and Trust Fundraising at Terrence Higgins Trust said:  “Raising funds for people living with and affected by HIV has never been more important.  Our services are more in demand now than they’ve ever been, and we’re thrilled to be working with Topshop, Bay and Anita.  This event promises to be great fun, as well as raising awareness of HIV and sexual health.”

The Celebrity Shopping Evening and Jumbo Thrift Sale will run from 6pm to 9pm on Thursday 2nd December.  An exclusive preview evening hosted by Bay and Anita will be held on Wednesday 1st December – attendance at this event is strictly by invite only.

Ends

For further information:

Topshop/Jumbo Thrift Sale – Sameera Hassan, Topshop Press Office 020 7291 2388
THT/World AIDS Day – Mark Graver, Terrence Higgins Trust Press Office 020 7816 8620

Notes to editors

• Over 6,600 people were diagnosed with HIV in the UK in 2003, around 20% higher than the previous year.

• There are over 50,000 people living with HIV in this country, and around a third of them are unaware that they have the virus.

• HIV is now the fastest growing serious health condition in the UK.

• Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity and the largest in Europe.  It helps over 50,000 people each year and runs a wide variety of support, advice and information services across England and Wales.

• Daughter of writer and broadcaster Polly Devlin, Bay Garnett is widely held to be the “best dressed thrifter on the planet”.  She has featured in Harper’s Bazaar’s best-dressed list, and launched cult underground anti-fashion magazine Cheap Date in 1997 with Kira Jolliffe.  She is also style creative director for British designer Matthew Williamson.

• The fashion sense of Anita Pallenberg, one-time muse of Rolling Stones manager Brian Jones, has influenced generations.  Preferring the London scene to New York (where she has spent several years) she admits a passion for “the borderline and underground” and often takes her inspiration from people she spots in the street.

• Topshop is the fashion authority of the British high street and is one of the UK’s leading clothing retailers, with over 230 stores nationwide.