The Village Attic: This is the Vintage Luxury That Empowers Women

Yeah, shopping can do good not just for yourself but also for others. A celebration of style, sustainability, and empowerment in support of Smart Works. There’s a quiet revolution unfolding in the heart of Oxfordshire. At Bicester Village, where luxury fashion meets refined experience, a new story is being told; one stitched with purpose, passion, and power. Do Good presents The Village Attic is more than a pop-up; it’s a living embodiment of how fashion can empower women, nurture communities, and celebrate sustainable shopping without compromising on style. Find out all about this new Bicester Village new shop here in, The Village Attic: This is the Vintage Luxury That Empowers Women

As Bicester Village celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025, it also marks five transformative years of partnership with Smart Works, the award-winning UK charity helping women secure employment through clothing, coaching, and confidence. This season, their collaboration comes to life through The Village Attic, a space where vintage fashion, philanthropy, and conscious consumption meet in harmony.

Rediscovering the Power of Clothing

The Village Attic welcomes guests to explore an inspiring edit of vintage designer clothing, jewellery, shoes, and accessories; all curated by the inimitable Bay Garnett, the pioneer of “thrift chic.” Known for her editorial eye and authentic love of vintage, Garnett has sourced over 200 unique pieces from across the UK, including treasures from the Smart Works archive.

The rails are lined with names that define timeless craftsmanship: Alaïa, Saint Laurent, Anna Sui, Hayley Menzies; each piece chosen to tell a story of beauty, history, and reinvention. “This project has been a dream,” says Garnett. “It’s about fashion that helps women; clothes that give confidence and strength. That’s the magic of Smart Works, and that’s why The Village Attic means so much to me.”

Every sale, every stitch, carries deeper meaning: 100% of proceeds go directly to Smart Works, supporting women as they take their next steps into employment. Here, fashion truly becomes a force for good.

A Movement Led by Do Good

For Chantal Khoueiry, Chief Culture Officer of The Bicester Collection, this project is the culmination of years of dedication to purpose-led retail. “When fashion meets purpose, lives are transformed,” she says. “Through our Do Good programme, we harness the power of our platform to create lasting impact locally and globally. The Village Attic is proof of what’s possible when creativity and compassion work hand in hand.”

Since the partnership began, the Do Good initiative has raised over £480,000 for Smart Works, directly helping more than 11,800 women across London, with 63% going on to secure jobs. The initiative has also supported the opening of the Smart Works South London Centre, enabling an additional 1,500 women to access life-changing support.

Inside The Village Attic: Where Design Meets Discovery

Step inside The Village Attic and you’re met with a space designed for both reflection and discovery. Inspired by mid-century interiors and reimagined through a modern lens, the pop-up feels like stepping into a time capsule of creativity; a curated attic of stories waiting to be found.

A dedicated photo wall celebrates the women whose lives have been transformed through Smart Works, capturing their resilience and joy. The experience is intimate and immersive: guests are invited to shop mindfully, to slow down, and to rediscover the thrill of the find.

In a retail world often dominated by speed and excess, The Village Attic redefines the meaning of luxury. It invites visitors to embrace circular fashion, to treasure craftsmanship, and to shop with intention.

Smart Works: Confidence in Every Stitch

Smart Works CEO Anna Hemmings describes the partnership as “transformative.” “When a woman looks and feels great about who she is, she can change her life, and the lives of those around her,” she says. “The Village Attic not only raises vital funds for our work, but also draws attention to the growing focus on sustainability and circularity in fashion. It’s proof that style and social impact can, and should, coexist.”

Since its founding, Smart Works has helped over 40,000 women across the UK, with centres in London, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, and beyond. Its mission is simple yet profound: to ensure that any woman who needs support can access it, wherever she lives.

Celebrating 30 Years of Style and Social Impact

As Bicester Village, the flagship of The Bicester Collection, enters its 30th year, The Village Attic stands as a powerful symbol of evolution; proof that the future of fashion lies not just in what we wear, but in what we stand for.

Through Do Good, The Bicester Collection continues to champion philanthropy, sustainability, and empowerment, creating a global movement where fashion and purpose intertwine. What began as a luxury shopping destination has become a platform for change; one that invites every visitor to play a part in transforming lives.

The Village Attic is open from 23 October to 20 November 2025 at Bicester Village, Oxfordshire.

For more information, visit TheBicesterCollection.com and learn more about Smart Works at smartworks.org.uk.

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.Cent Magazine, London. Luxury Mindset