Common previously Koha Apparel

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Common previously Koha Apparel

We dress people + keep clothing in circulation. Pre-loved + deadstock only. Monthly repair workshops 💙 Your community clothing exchange ♻️

19/08/2026

Melbourne and beyond we are going to need you to cleanse your wardrobes!

We’re heading into spring, our new space is open, and we already have 10 community organisations with unmet demand for clothing.

For seven years, this work has been made possible by the generosity of the public; people looking at the clothing they no longer wear, recognising that it still has value, and choosing to put it back into circulation where it can have an impact locally.

Now we’re asking the same of our very fresh community in Melbourne.

We’re looking for quality clothing across feminine, masculine and kids. If it’s sitting unworn in your wardrobe, we can help get it back into use.

Our wardrobe clear out kits are now available online for $47, including return shipping. We send you the kit, you clear out your wardrobe and send it back to us. Further information is available on our website.

If there are pieces in your wardrobe you no longer reach for, clear some space, skip the admin of marketplaces or consignment, and contribute to something happening in your own community.

Photography by Tracey Creed

17/08/2026

We have secured a space within the Post Sole Studio community and feel incredibly fortunate for what it will enable.

It is space to receive, sort and organise clothing for redistribution, to support organisations with the clothing they need, and to continue building Common here.

We’ll have set times each week when we are at our space in Abbotsford so you can drop off clothing, and we are available for our partners to collect their orders.

In the coming weeks we will arrange an afternoon on a Saturday for anyone interested in learning more about Common, how it began, our work, why we brought it here and how you can participate.

We look forward to meeting you.
Charli & Trace

03/08/2026

Through connecting with local social services, we have very quickly learnt that there are many people unable to access quality clothing in Melbourne city, much like everywhere.

We are looking for a space to receive, sort, and store resources to support operations in Melbourne. We do not need retail space.

We are seeking a space from approximately 4 m × 4 m or larger, suitable for Trace, myself, and eventually our volunteers (who we are currently looking to recruit) to scale Common.

A shared space is also an option, we are open to occupying a room or part of a shared workspace.
Our goal is to establish a practical base from which we work alongside existing services, and ensure resources can be received, organised, and distributed where they are most needed.

We know of very few people in Melbourne, so please tag and share this post with your contacts.

New city, same mission.

Charli & Trace

22/04/2026

Even within well-resourced ecosystems, a commitment to quality sourcing—despite increased operational complexity, was our differentiator in delivering a service grounded in dignity.

20/04/2026

For people seeking asylum, accessing high-quality clothing is not a small thing or a nice-to-have; it’s about safety and stability.

16/04/2026

Quality was a consistent theme across our partnership feedback. Even within established service networks, our commitment to sourcing meant we could shift reliance on public donations fueled by fast fashion.

15/04/2026

In isolated communities, access is not equal. Our work aimed to bridge those gaps ensuring tamariki could show up with dignity and confidence.

14/04/2026

For us this testimonial reinforces that role of clothing in enabling change, in ways participants could step confidently into interviews, employment and new chapters.

06/04/2026

Common operated at the intersection of clothing insecurity and surplus waste.

We redirected high-quality garments into communities experiencing sustained need — from pregnancy and early childhood through to employment and transitional housing.

Our model focused on relevance, dignity and participation, ensuring clothing strengthened confidence and enabled forward movement.

31/03/2026

Since 2020, when operating as Koha Apparel (now Common), we have had the privilege of supporting wāhine through Mana Wāhine dinners and more broadly, the community across World Homeless Days.

This reflection from our partners at Te Tāpui Atawhai, Auckland City Mission speaks to the power of clothing in relation to self worth, how we present to the world and the language that speaks.

Address

8 Cargill Street, Eden Terrace
Auckland
1010

Opening Hours

10am - 2pm

Website

https://commonequal.com/

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