Counterfeit clothing seized from Liverpool traders is being recycled and given to people in need in the city.
The handover is a result of a partnership between the city council’s Trading Standards and the His Church charity.
Trading Standards officers passed on thousands of items of clothes which have been seized to His Church. The charity remove counterfeit branding and rebrand the items with their own logo.
One of the organisations to benefit is the Liverpool Homeless Football Club who were presented with rebranded clothing on. They will also receive training clothes donated by Liverpool FC and Everton FC and donations from food manufacturers John West and Typhoo.
The Homeless Football Club operates throughout Merseyside promoting inclusion, healthy living and helping to rebuild lives through football.
Other groups including those for the homeless will also receive the rebranded goods.
Councillor Tim Moore, city council cabinet member, said; “The trade in fake goods hits consumers and legitimate businesses. Our trading standards team seize large quantities of counterfeit clothes and other products each year.
“While it is not of the same quality of the brand name it is purporting to be, much of it is still usable. It is far better that we recycle it and help vulnerable people rather than just destroying it.”
Richard Humphrey, Senior Coordinator at His Church, said: “Our partnership with Liverpool Trading Standards means not only are these brand new clothes taken from the hands of criminals, they are redistributed to the most vulnerable people in society.
“To this end, we are thrilled to be jointly supporting the fantastic work of Liverpool Homeless Football Club and the additional donations made by Liverpool’s food manufacturers and premiership football teams are a testimony to the city’s renowned community spirit.”
