I have a love of charity shopping/thrifting which cannot be quenched in Asia.  I loved it way before it became fashionable, mainly because that was when you realistically had a fighting chance of bagging a vintage Marni coat for about a fiver.  Just as I was beginning to think I’d have to settle for shopping and giving to charity as being two independent transactions, I wandered in to H&M in Queen’s Road Central in Hong Kong to discover that they have just launched an amazing collection of items in collaboration with Unicef.  

Kids stuff only I’m afraid but great for children’s – whether they are your own or nieces and nephews – Christmas presents and all at amazingly good prices.  It’s also reassuring to assume without conducting your own extensive research (I feel sure Unicef will have looked in to this point in some detail) that as cheap as H&M clothing may be, it is not made in child labour sweat shops.

This very sweet cream canvas and French navy Wendy House (flat packed and in it’s own bag) was my star buy and – joy of joys – is about the only thing on earth that does not seem to be sold in gender specific colours.

It cost me just HKD$499 (SGD$78/£40), 25% of which goes straight to the charity.

For more information on H&M and Unicef, click here.

Wendy House image courtesy of H&M