A new clothes borrowing scheme has opened-up in Brixton thanks to a partnership between local business ihateironing and Lambeth Council’s libraries service.

Created to offer support to the local community, the new partnership allows job seekers to borrow smart clothes for their next interview to help them dress for success.

Matt Connelly, ihateironing founder and CEO, said: “Competition for jobs is particularly high, which means when someone gets selected for an interview, every part of that interview matters. Alongside someone’s experience and enthusiasm for the role, first impressions count and how someone presents themselves is a big part of the assessment process.

“We understand that clothes for an interview can be expensive and not everyone can afford a smart outfit that they may only wear a couple of times, so we’re building a collection of clothes at Brixton Library that can be borrowed by the local community to help everyone dress for success, whatever their circumstances.”

ihateironing, based in Brixton, is a premium on-demand drycleaning and laundry delivery service that is powered by a network of local entrepreneurs. The company has agreed to continue to help source outfits for the library to lend out and will clean and return the clothes for free after each use.

The library receives clothes from across ihateironing’s partnership base. These come from suitable clothes that have either never been collected by customers, or as the scheme raises more awareness, from customers who are donating nearly new items that can be pressed and donated.

If anyone in the industry wants to get involved in the scheme, or set up similar in their local area, then there’s more information on a blog on ihateironing’s website.

Abibat Olulode from Brixton Library and Matt Connelly, ihateironing founder and CEO , reveal the first rail of smart workwear available for the community to borrow to help them dress for success.