“Kopche“ is a social enterprise where everyone can donate, buy a unique piece of second hand clothing at most affordable prices or obtain some clothes free of charge. “Kopche“ was developed and operated under the Red Cross of the Republic of North Macedonia – Red Cross of the City of Skopje and is the result of many years of experience in managing donations of clothes and their distribution to the most marginalized groups. “Kopche“ is an example of a more efficient distribution of clothes to the persons at risk, easy access to clothes at low prices for persons with low income who do not ask for help, employment of vulnerable groups and protecting the environment.
It looks just like every other shop, but it is still a little bit different
In the center of Skopje, right next to the Red Cross there is a charming shop called Kopche (Button). It sells second hand clothes and the clothes are donated by people and companies that no longer need them. The sales of such clothes helps the operation of the shop. It employs persons at social risk – single parents, and the funds earned from the sales pay for their salaries as well as for all other additionally necessary materials – detergents, redesigning and repair of the clothes.
Kopche is managed by Katerina Aleksova who says that the idea came from the International Red Cross Organization. “We opened the shop in 2018 and I have to say that we become more and more popular both among those that buy the clothes as well as among the ones that donate. In the future we plan to open “Malo Kopche” as well for clothes for children and babies. The Red Cross always donates clothes for socially marginalized persons, but this shop also helps the ones working here and the ones who are not financially well off or do not want to take something without paying for it. We are happy because we are often told that we look just like a regular clothes shop, just with much more affordable prices.
