What is Second Hand September?
Second Hand September is a campaign originally founded by Oxfam in 2019 to encourage buying only second hand clothes for the whole month. Since then, it has grown beyond Oxfam and is a campaign championed by many other resale and preloved-centred businesses.
What originally started as a focus on reducing the demand for new fashion production and choosing preloved instead has grown into an overall month of moving away from brand new, resource-demanding buying that is totally unnecessary. From preloved to upcycling to maintaining what you already own, the month of September is a time to focus on what we can do to reduce our demand on natural resources as shoppers.
Why is it important that we shop second hand?
Choosing second hand has a direct positive impact on the demand for the production of new goods, which uses many natural resources. By choosing a piece of clothing or a home décor item that already exists, you have prevented the need for a new version of something that already exists to be created.
Did you know the fashion industry accounts for 10% of all global emissions? Plus, the natural resources needed to produce a white cotton tee or a pair of jeans are vastly disproportionate to the length of time we are wearing our clothes. With a bin lorry full of unwanted textiles tipping into landfill every second, by choosing second hand even just one time, you are keeping that item from landfill, where it will either be burnt or buried, eventually degrading and seeping into the groundwater.
Whilst these are alarming facts that can often make sustainable fashion feel completely out of reach, they remind us why small changes make a big impact.
Ways you can get involved with Second Hand September
As supporters of Oxfam’s Second Hand September, we’ve pulled together three ways that you can get involved with the movement towards preloved.
Choose second hand over brand new when buying clothes
Did you plan on buying any new clothes this month? If so, buy them second hand instead. This doesn’t mean overhauling your wardrobe overnight. Instead, pick one item on your clothing wishlist and choose second hand over brand new. If you’re new to preloved, this might seem like a daunting task, but in reality, second hand is as easy as brand new once you know where the best places are to shop.
Read our guide here on the best places to shop second hand online.
Try second hand home décor for the first time
Oxfam’s campaign for a whole month of second hand originated with the issue of fast fashion and the impact that the production of new clothes, and the management and disposal of unwanted clothes, has on the environment. However, with its growing success each year, the campaign has expanded beyond fashion and is now associated with all things second hand, including home décor and furniture.
This is a category of preloved seeing a huge spike in demand, with the British Retail Consortium finding that second hand furniture is the fastest-growing category. Just as we have seen with fashion, home décor is suffering its own pandemic of mass-produced, low-quality goods, which is why second hand and vintage home décor is a great alternative. The best part is that just about anything for your home is available second hand.
Responsibly clear out your unwanted clothes
Choosing second hand clothes over brand new has little to no long-term impact if you are then throwing your unwanted clothes straight into the bin. Knowing the correct ways to dispose of your unwanted clothes, shoes and accessories is the other end of the preloved clothing train that must be accounted for.
Where you live, what clothes you want to dispose of and what they are made from all determine how you can responsibly clear out your wardrobe. Before choosing the bin, always look for alternatives such as selling your clothes online, organising a clothes swap with friends or taking them to a clothes recycling centre.
Read our full guide on how you can responsibly clear out your unwanted clothes.
Easy second hand wins
Getting involved with Second Hand September and making positive changes to your shopping habits doesn’t need to happen overnight. Instead, Oxfam’s campaign encourages you to give second hand a go at your own pace. If you’re looking for easy wins this Second Hand September, start here:
Gifts for a loved one
Getting involved with Second Hand September and making positive changes to your shopping habits doesn’t need to happen overnight. Instead, Oxfam’s campaign encourages you to give second hand a go at your own pace. If you’re looking for easy wins this Second Hand September, start here:
Some second hand and vintage gift ideas we love:
- A vintage jewellery box with a special piece inside
- Their dream bag that would normally be too pricey brand new
- Wall art that reminds you both of a special memory together
Make your next purchase second hand, no matter what it is
Another easy win this Second Hand September is to make your next planned purchase second hand, no matter what it is. This takes the guessing and uncertainty out of making the switch to second hand. Perhaps you had planned to buy new plates for your dining table or a new work bag; whatever it is, this time think second hand first.
Want our top tips on shopping second hand? Read the full guide here to make sure you’re hunting down the best preloved finds at the best prices.
Choose what you already own
The most sustainable option when planning what to wear is to choose what you already own. Revisit your wardrobe and consider your outfit options differently. Digitised wardrobe tools such as Whering are ideal for identifying clothes you have forgotten about and finding new ways to style them.
Trends come back around and no fashion trend is “new”; it is simply a recycled version of a previous trend. Altering your wardrobe to fit a fleeting trend is a waste of natural resources, especially when what is already in your wardrobe will be back “on trend” before you know it.
Get involved this Second Hand September
Second Hand September doesn’t have to mean changing the way you shop overnight. Whether you choose one item second hand instead of brand new, give preloved home décor a go, responsibly clear out your wardrobe or simply make better use of what you already own, every small change is a step away from unnecessary new consumption. This September, think about what you already have, what already exists and where choosing second hand could become part of the way you shop beyond the month itself.
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