Two best friends with a huge combined social media following are teaming up to promote a hospice’s pre-loved fashion venture.

Bake Off star Laura Adlington and influencer pal Lottie Drynan have been drafted in by Friends of the Wisdom Hospice (FOWH) to drum up support for the new store inside an airport hangar.

Taking over a former office warehouse in Lankester Parker Road, near Rochester Airport, the aptly named ‘The Hangar’ store aims to be the go-to place for preloved fashion items.

The charity is hosting the launch event on October 1 at 6.30pm, with a DJ and a special performance by dance troupe Haus of Heels.

Gravesend-born Laura, who lives in Halling and was the stand out star of the Channel 4’s Bake Off in 2020, has since attracted a host of fans with the launch of “Same Dress, Different Bodies” on Instagram with fellow influencer Lottie.

The pair have collaborated on projects before highlighting body positive fashion to their followers.

Both will attend the launch of FOWH’s latest shop next month and help promote the shop via their social media channels, which collectively cater to an audience of more than 822,000 followers.

John Hale, the charity’s head of retail, said: “Charity retailing has exploded over recent years and any poor image of having second-hand items has mostly disappeared.

“Charity shops are cool trendy places but must hit a certain criterion for many.”

As well as selling a large array of second-hand clothing, the group is also taking on the services of a talented seamstress who previously worked for the Royal Opera House.

She will be volunteering her time to help launch a range of upcycled garments previously set aside for recycling.

The charity has plans to expand the project into the 3,000sq ft unit next door in the hopes of creating a unique retail experience based on a more community-focused model.

John Hale added: “At the heart of this is our reason and pull factor and that is the Wisdom Hospice.

“We exist because we must raise funds to support the only adult hospice for Medway and Swale.

“The financial struggles that the Hospice sector is facing, it falls to their fundraising arms to look to new ways to increase fundraising powers, and this is just one of our plans to support the Hospice.”

A second event will be held on October 3 for trustees and supporters with the shop finally opening to the public on October 5.

It will trade all week and will be available to people looking to shop or drop off donations.

The FOTW helps fund palliative and end of life care to promote the relief of suffering and treatment of illness in the Medway and Swale areas.