LAKELAND Leather’s recent campaign encouraged customers to recycle their unwanted jackets in support of the Great North Air Ambulance Service and in a bid to campaign against throwaway fashion.

The Lake District-based fashion retailer launched a three week campaign throughout all its stores across the UK to encourage the recycling of unwanted jackets to raise money for the charity.

The GNAAS covers over 8,000 square miles across Cumbria, the North East and North Yorkshire providing expert pre-hospital care to major trauma incidents. As a charity it relies solely on the generosity of the public to raise the £5.17 million needed to operate and continue to save lives in the local community.

The campaign was so well received by customers that as well as donating unwanted clothing, customers also gave monetary donations. Lakeland Leather has accumulated more than 200 jackets and £1,000 worth of cash donations for the charity. This is over £2,500 worth of donations altogether and a van full of recycled clothing.

Fiona Wright, Head of Retail at Lakeland Leather, said: “It has been so amazing to see how generous our customers have been in supporting the cause. The store staff have also been extremely passionate in spreading awareness and supporting the campaign.

“As well as raising money for an important cause we have also encouraged the recycling of unwanted clothing in a sustainable, ethical and morally-conscious way.”

Martin Foster, Managing Director, commented: “Seeing how many charity bags full of clothing were being loaded into the GNAAS van was amazing, the support from our customers has been incredible.”

The GNAAS will resell the unwanted clothing in their charity shops across the UK to fund new equipment and life-saving techniques.