Do you remember your last purchase of clothing? Did you find yourself getting trapped in the trends for Autumn? We far too often get swooped up into the “What’s New” Fashion pages. The reality is that every week, 13 million items of clothing end up in UK landfill. Source: Oxfam © 2020
Second-hand September is in full swing. Set up by Oxfam, this new worthwhile challenge aims to inform people to stop shopping for new clothes and instead, look for pre-loved items! This could be swapping clothes with friends, checking out Depop, eBay or even upcycling what you currently own!
“Fashion accounts for 20% to 30% of microplastics that flow into the ocean”. - The State of Fashion, McKinsey 2020
How to Get Involved with Second-hand September?
Here are some easy ways to start!
1. Swap Clothes with Friends
Do you have items of clothing that you no longer wear? Why not swap them with someone else? Your trash could be someone else's treasure. Whether it's a dress, jumper or a winter coat, swapping clothes is much better than buying new — and can help to curb fast fashion.
2. Declutter your Wardrobe
Clutter-free closet? Maybe it's time to start sorting out any garments you no longer wear. It will free up your wardrobe space. If you're looking to make some extra cash, there are many options for you to sell garments via Facebook Marketplace or Depop.
3. Shop Second-hand!
Whether it's checking out your local charity store or swapping clothing online, doing so will help to prolong the life of items that would otherwise end up in landfill. Buying second-hand helps to lower the overall demand for new clothing to be produced.
5. Upcycle - Get Creative with your Clothes!
We are consuming household objects and clothing at an unsustainable rate, regularly replacing broken items for newer versions instead of simply cleaning, fixing or upcycling them. Put life back into your old garments by getting creative with finding ways to re-purpose them!
5. Get Involved and Share the Message!
Get involved by sharing and celebrating your second-hand steals using the following hashtags:
#RememberWhoMadeThem
#OOOTD (old outfit of the day)
#SecondHandSeptember
Remember, it’s not too late to get involved. You can start right now if you want to and extend the challenge throughout October. You might even choose to carry it on indefinitely!
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