Red Cross ambassador Alex van Os joins DoSomething Day with eco friendly fashion ideas

ECO stylist Alex van Os is passionate about pre-loved fashion and will be at her local Newport Red Cross shop on DoSomething Day on July 19 to offer free advice.

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IT’S the circle of goodness that makes the role of Australian Red Cross ambassador a privilege for eco-stylist Alex van Os.

The 26-year-old op shop devotee has a passion for pre-loved fashion and attends Red Cross retail stores to give styling advice.

She is volunteering her time at her local Red Cross store in Newport on July 18 in preparation of DoSomething Day on July 19.

Do Something Day on July 19 is Australia’s biggest celebration of volunteering in our communities, recognising the extraordinary contributions made by everyday locals. It seeks to inspire people to make a difference and give back by volunteering, making a donation or carrying out a simple random act of kindness.

Stylist Alex van Os gives Red Cross volunteer Bogusha Wosik a makeover at the newly opened Red Cross shop on Church St in Parramatta

“It’s my way to be able to make those sales for the Red Cross, engaging with my local community and provide my expertise,” she said.

“I’ll provide styling advice to customers that come in. I’m doing it because of the happiness that comes from doing something good. It’s just such a positive environment.”

The Op Shop to Runway Instagram account creator — which tracks op shop and vintage buys — said it was the generosity from everyone involved in the Red Cross that drew her to the organisation.

“It’s from the people who donate to the volunteers who run the stores, to the people who buy the items and the money going out to help people,” van Os said.

“That’s why I do support the Red Cross because it’s this circle of goodness.

Eco stylist Alex Van Os says buying pre-loved clothing reduces waste and helps the environment. Picture: John Appleyard

“A great way people can help out on DoSomething Day is volunteering at Red Cross. This could be making calls to the elderly to see how they are going, help out at an evacuation centre or at a retail store.

“Or to go through your wardrobe and donate those pieces that you no longer wear, that are good quality, and that you know someone else needs. The Red Cross can’t have these incredible stores without the donations from everyday people to help others.”

Van Os has dressed cast members from The Voice, I’m a Celebrity Get me Out of Here, The Bachelor and Home and Away and worked on Ricky Martin’s wardrobe.

She said preloved clothing was the best ways to minimise waste.

“I’m a big believer and advocate for shopping sustainably,” she said.

Op shop pieces can look just as good as high fashion items at many times the price. Picture: John Appleyard

“The Red Cross prevent garments from going into landfill. The Red Cross is such a humanitarian organisation. It’s combining my love to want to do good and my love of fashion.

“Wearing second-hand clothes is saying who I am because I support reducing landfill and items being used or worn multiple times in multiple ways. I promote that you can still be on-trend shopping preloved.

“Op Shop to Runway shows that the pieces you can get from an op shop you will look just as good as what’s on the runway. I do comparison posts on my Instagram. I do op shop tours to educate people on how to shop sustainably.”

WHAT IS DO SOMETHING DAY?

Do Something Day on July 19 is Australia’s biggest celebration of volunteering in our communities, recognising the extraordinary contributions made by everyday locals. It seeks to inspire people to make a difference and give back by volunteering, making a donation or carrying out a simple random act of kindness.

HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?

There are endless ways you can help others — and you don’t need to wait until Dosomething Day to start. However, as July 19 is the focal point of this celebration, it would be great to turn your attention to it on that day. Let the “kind-o-miser” generate a kind deed suggestion for you to do. Try our Do Something Day Quiz which will help match you with a charity that reflects your ideals.

What will you do on DoSomething Day. Picture: John Appleyard

ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Tweet, Instagram or Facebook a picture that captures the spirit of kindness and generosity on Do Something Day — and use the hashtags #dosomethingday and #giveyourbest. It could be a picture of a volunteers at charity you are already involved with. It could be a picture acknowledging someone in your community who selflessly works for others. It could be a snap of the nice person who serves your coffee every day with a smile. so many ways to acknowledge the kindness in our community.