From Bras to a Bravalanche: Our Weekend with Smalls for All

Y.O.U Underwear has been on a small adventure. Last weekend we spent 3 days volunteering with the charity Smalls for All. We've never seen so much underwear in one place!

It was great to see first-hand how Smalls for All sorts and organises all the gently worn bras and new pants they receive from members of the public. We also met some amazing volunteers! 

For those of you unfamiliar with the term, here’s what a bravalanche looks like:

It's generally defined as a steady (and unstoppable) stream of thousands of bras. Oxford English Dictionary approval pending! 

It’s amazing what a small volunteer army, copious amounts of tea and some sharp scissors can achieve. On Sunday alone, we managed to open over 2,000 parcels and over the course of the weekend we got through 30 (!) postage crates full of lovingly gifted donations. 

These bras are now on their way to happy homes all over the world.  

Where does this underwear go?

Smalls for All works closely with local organisations to ensure that underwear reaches the right people. In Africa, Smalls focuses on individuals in orphanages, slums, camps, hospitals and schools, including internally displaced people (IDPs). 

In some of these communities it is estimated that 1 in 10 girls miss school on their periods due to a lack of underwear and sanitary products. Without proper period protection, they’re left with no choice but to miss school – up to 12 weeks a year! A lack of underwear can also affect community inclusion and job prospects for some of the world’s most vulnerable women.

So far, Y.O.U Underwear has donated over 3,550 pairs of underwear to Smalls, and we aim to donate 23,000 pairs by 2023. We’re so proud to be part of an effort that has so far supported people in over 18 African countries, as well as the UK.

Do you want to get involved? You can send your gently worn bras and new underwear directly to Smalls for All. Read more on how you can help out.