Suited & Booted
The Royal Opera House has entered a new partnership to drive our goal to reach net zero by 2035, and focus our building-wide approach to the sustainable reuse of materials.
In 2019, the Royal Opera House costume department discovered over 2,000 front of house staff uniforms no longer in use. Wanting to extend the life of these quality items, we partnered with London-based charity Suited & Booted to provide smart workwear for vulnerable, unemployed and low-income men, helping them enter employment and move their lives forward.
The Royal Opera House provided 1,929 items – including jackets, trousers, waistcoats, T-shirts and shirts – to men preparing for job interviews. By reusing quality clothing, the project has saved 17 tonnes of CO2E (the equivalent of 17 hot air balloons) from being released into the atmosphere, had the items gone to landfill.
Most importantly, the service provided by Suited & Booted has boosted confidence and changed lives. The partnership has enabled service users to move forward following chaotic life experiences, which include addiction, prison and homelessness. We look forward to continuing this work across 2022-2023.
Suited & Booted
Suited & Booted is a charity that helps vulnerable, unemployed and low-income men into employment by providing interview clothing and interview advice. They aim to make a difference so that people can move forward with the ability to succeed and find their own way in society.
You can find out more about their work on the Suited & Booted website.