The Things Women Carry…
For years, I’ve believed that small gestures can create big shifts — especially for women navigating work, motherhood, identity, and the pressure to “keep it all together.” My intention behind Priestleys has always been to be more than leather goods; it’s about the connection between making, purpose, and mental wellbeing.
Smart Works has been a charity I’ve admired from afar for a long time, so when I had a chance encounter with the CEO of Smart Works Leeds, everything clicked into place. The moment we started talking, I knew I wanted to find away to use craft to support others. I leapt at the opportunity and began shaping a charity project that felt meaningful, practical, and aligned with both of our missions.
What Is Smart Works?
Smart Works is a UK based charity founded in 2013 to help unemployed women gain the confidence, they need to succeed at job interviews by providing them with the clothing, coaching, support and helping them to prepare for interviews that will transform their lives. What began as a single centre in Islington has now grown into 12 centres across England and Scotland, supporting thousands of women every year.
Their purpose to help women break through the barriers of unemployment by giving them the tools and confidence to secure work.
Why Smart Works was Founded
Smart Works was created to meet a very real need. Many women face complex challenges when trying to enter or re‑enter the workplace — financial hardship, long-term unemployment, caring responsibilities, mental health struggles, or simply a loss of confidence after months of job searching.
Women are referred to Smart Works from job centres, women’s refuges, the prison system, homeless shelters, and mental health charities.
Smart Works provides:
A complete interview outfit, free and theirs to keep
One‑to‑one interview coaching
Practical tools and emotional support
A warm, and supportive environment
67% of Smart Works clients secure a job within a month of their appointment.
How Women Use Smart Works
A woman’s journey with Smart Works usually begins with a referral from a partner organisation. She’s welcomed into a styling session where volunteers help her choose a full interview outfit — clothing, shoes, a bag, and accessories — all free and hers to keep. She then receives one‑to‑one interview coaching to help her feel prepared and confident. For many women, this appointment becomes a turning point: a moment where self‑belief returns and the path back into work feels possible again.
The Brands and Businesses Supporting Smart Works
Smart Works is supported by an incredible network of brands and businesses who donate clothing, funding, expertise, and visibility. Their community of partners is wide‑ranging — from high‑street names to luxury labels — all united by a shared belief in helping women step into work with confidence. Brands such as Nobody’s Child, John Lewis, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and many other fashion brands, retailers, and independent designers who donate high‑quality pieces to keep the Smart Works wardrobe stocked and ready for the women who need it most.
Priestleys X Smart Works Leeds
International Women’s Day 2026
This year, we’re launching a simple but meaningful project to support Smart Works — one rooted in practicality, community, and the belief that women supporting women can create real change.
We’ll be inviting our community to donate unwanted bags that are still in good condition but no longer being used. At Priestleys, we’ll clean them, refresh them, and carry out light repairs where needed, ensuring each one feels ready for its next chapter. They can be made from any materials, they do not have to be expensive!
But there’s one more thing…
When you send in your bag, we’ll be asking you to include a little note to the recipient . A sentence, a few words that helped you at a pivotal moment, or even the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given. These messages will be passed on with the bags, offering encouragement, solidarity, and a reminder that none of us move through our careers alone.
A bag to carry. A message to hold onto. One woman supporting another.
It’s simple, thoughtful, and rooted in everything we believe about craft, purpose, and community.
We’ll be delivering the donated bags to Smart Works just before International Women’s Day, so they’re ready to support women stepping into interviews throughout March.
We’re finalising the logistics now, and we’ll share exactly how to take part in our next update. In the meantime if you have want to hear more, be involved email us at priestleysuk@gmail.com
