Sporty Spice is Giving Up her Tracksuits: Melanie C Opens Archive for 8th Annual Uber x Australian Red Cross Clothing Drive

Pop culture’s ultimate tracksuit icon calls on Aussies to donate quality pre-loved clothes on Saturday, 17 October, with free Courier pickups on Uber and Uber Eats

For three decades, Melanie C has helped make the humble tracksuit a piece of pop culture history. Now, the global singer-songwriter has partnered with the Uber x Australian Red Cross Clothing Drive, opening up her personal archive and donating three memorable looks to show Aussies that parting with quality clothes you love can actually feel pretty good. 

For one day only on Saturday 17 October 2026, between 10am and 4pm local time, residents in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney can book FREE Courier deliveries on the Uber or Uber Eats app to have their quality clothing donations picked up directly from their doorstep to distribute to Red Cross shops nationwide.

From stage outfits and screen-worn pieces to clothing tied to memorable moments throughout her career, Melanie is looking back at some of the items she has held onto over the years - and is now ready to give some of her most treasured items a new home.

Watch Melanie choose what she’s donating for the Uber x Australian Red Cross Clothing Drive.

On getting behind this year’s Uber x Australian Red Cross Clothing Drive, Melanie C said: “I’ve always loved finding great pre-loved pieces. The last time I was in Sydney, my stylist and I went into a Red Cross Shop in Bondi Junction and found a brilliant yellow bomber jacket, which I ended up wearing on The Voice. I love that you never quite know what you’re going to find.”

“I’ve been lucky enough to wear some incredible pieces over the years -  there are lots of memories attached to them, and I love the idea of giving them a new life with somebody else. And yes, I’m even parting with a couple of tracksuits! If I can do it, hopefully Sporty Spice can inspire others to have a look through their wardrobes too.”

Melanie C’s Archive Donations

To lead by example, Melanie is opening up her personal archive and parting with three memorable pieces for the campaign in Australia to help raise funds for those in need, all of which will be heading directly to Australian Red Cross Shops:

• The Morning Show Tracksuit: A green and yellow tracksuit that was jokingly compared to the famous green-and-gold tracksuit worn by former Prime Minister John Howard.
• The Roundhouse Sequin Suit: A grey sequin suit worn while performing at the Rise Up for the Roundhouse Gala in London, styled with a red sport crop top and trainers. 
• A “little (black) Gucci dress”: Straight from Melanie’s archive - a nod to her long history with the fashion house and Spice World.

Women’s jackets, knitwear and tops are among the items the Australian Red Cross Shops are most looking for this year. Melanie’s donations will soon be available through Red Cross Shops across Australia and New Zealand, meaning one of her iconic looks could end up closer than you think. 

Previous celebrity donations have also popped up in different corners of Australia, with Cody Simpson’s pieces sold through the Darlinghurst Red Cross Shop in Sydney within two weeks of hitting the floor, while Chrishell Stause’s handbag found a new home through the Cottesloe store in Western Australia.

Last year, the Uber x Australian Red Cross Clothing Drive collected almost 125,000kg of quality pre-loved clothing nationally, with enough shop-quality donations to stock five Red Cross Shops for an entire year.

Richard Wood, Head of Retail at Australian Red Cross said, “Melanie is a fantastic advocate for this year’s Clothing Drive, showing that our most cherished wardrobe pieces can be ready for a new life. High quality donations mean our volunteers can spend less time sorting and more time getting great pieces into shops to help raise vital funds for our humanitarian programs. We hope her leading by example inspires Aussies to donate quality pieces they’re ready to give a new home.”

Emma Foley, Managing Director for Uber Australia and New Zealand, said, “We are thrilled to have Melanie involved in our 8th annual clothing drive with Australian Red Cross, to help us remind Aussies that donating quality clothing can feel easy, rewarding and worth doing. I look forward to this event every year - by making Courier deliveries available for free, it’s an initiative that truly moves what matters in local communities, making it easier than ever for busy Aussies to get their quality donations straight to Red Cross.”

How Australians can donate from their doorstep

On Saturday 17 October between 10AM and 4PM local time, Uber and Australian Red Cross are on a mission to give a second life to pre-loved clothes. By offering free Courier deliveries to Australian Red Cross Shop drop-off locations across Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, Uber is making it easier than ever to donate quality pre-loved clothing to fund vital programs that support those in need. 

Gather pre-loved items into a bag or box, no heavier than 20 kg, so it can comfortably sit in the boot of a midsize car.

1. Open the Uber or Uber Eats app
2. Scroll to the Red Cross Clothing Drive image, and tap
3. Read through instructions and hit ‘book now’ to reach the checkout screen
4. You should see ‘Red Cross Clothing Drive’ on screen, and the drop-off spot should be pre-selected for you.
5. If you’re in an eligible city, the Red Cross Clothing Drive promotion should automatically apply, so check that your Courier trip is showing as a $0 amount
6. Confirm!

If you have any issues or can’t see the tile? Head to the Uber App > Courier > type in ‘Red Cross Shop’ > Pick the first option shown > Confirm.

Each donation can help support communities in need right across Australia and across the world. Donating quality, pre-loved and clean clothing can help contribute valuable funds to Australian Red Cross humanitarian programs. These programs offer support where it’s needed every day of the year. 

Few tips on how to to find the right items to donate: 

1. Refresh and reset: When it comes to decluttering your wardrobe, adopt a pragmatic approach. If you haven't worn an item in the last 12 months but it's still in great condition, consider donating it. Australian Red Cross is on the lookout for high-quality, saleable clothing and accessories. They can't accept homewares, underwear, or clothing that's worn out or dirty. If it's something you'd happily give to a friend due to its quality, it's definitely something Australian Red Cross would appreciate!
2. Create pre-loved bundles: Gather your pre-loved items into a bag or box, no heavier than 20kg, so it comfortably sits in the boot of a midsize car.

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For media enquiries, including requests for interviews, please contact:  media@redcross.org.au or 1800 733 443