The UK’s charity shops are renowned for their treasure troves of vintage and pre-loved finds, but few can boast donations from the Queen of Pop herself. Last year, music legend Madonna held a week of dress rehearsals at Manchester’s AO Arena in preparation for her highly anticipated Celebration Tour. Now, a selection of items from those rehearsals have found a new home – at the Children’s Air Ambulance charity shop in Salford.
The collection includes an eclectic mix of skirts, jumpers, trousers, shirts, and accessories, some even designed by New York fashion designer Daang Goodman for her streetwear brand Tripp NYC. While it remains unclear if Madonna personally wore any of the items, they were likely used during various stages of the Celebration Tour or worn by her dancers and team during rehearsals.
The discovery was made by a shopper named Alex Fisher, who stumbled upon the unique collection on a Friday afternoon. The items were clearly labeled by staff as “donated to us from the dress rehearsals at the AO Arena for Madonna’s Celebration tour ’23”. Alex, a PR manager, excitedly shared her find on TikTok, sparking a wave of interest among Madonna fans.
“Clothes from Madonna’s tour in a Manchester charity shop!,” she exclaimed in her video. “Apparently, she wore some of these.”
Alex purchased a yellow and black plaid skirt and a feather boa for a mere £11, expressing her astonishment at the “bizarre” discovery. “It’s my local charity shop which I frequent, and I just happened upon the rack and thought it was so cool,” she shared. “I am a big music fan and it felt strange to see clothes from Madonna’s tour in a Salford charity shop. A staff member informed me that they had more and even stranger items from the tour in the back which they hadn’t yet displayed, and there are videos of Madonna herself wearing some of the pieces.”
The standout pieces include a pair of fetish-style leather shorts, which one TikTok user suggested might be crafted by R and M Leathers and could fetch around £500, alongside several T-shirts tagged at a mere £7.50.
The Salford charity shop has embraced the excitement surrounding the collection, playfully referencing Madonna’s iconic songs on their Facebook page: “Are you a Material Girl or do you just like to Strike A Pose? We’ve got you covered. We have been donated some amazing pieces from the dress rehearsal of Madonna’s Celebration tour at the AO Arena. So tell your Papa Don’t Preach and come take a look at what we’ve got. Express yourself and Cherish your life-saving purchase. You’ll find us at the Children’s Air Ambulance charity store on Regent Road Retail Park, Regent Road, Salford, M5 3TP.”
Alex’s followers have been buzzing with excitement, with comments pouring in expressing their admiration for the collection. One person exclaimed: “That plaid skirt is UNREAL,” while another eager fan declared: “If you bought any of these I would literally buy them off you.” The discovery has sparked a frenzy among Madonna fans, turning the Salford charity shop into a must-visit destination for those hoping to snag a piece of pop history at bargain prices.
Children’s Air Ambulance have been contacted for comment.
