September is a time of resets and new beginnings; we often hear of people taking up new hobbies or quitting bad habits with the hopes of carrying them on into the future. Starting with the idea of taking up something new for thirty days can seem a lot less daunting and can lead to people being more successful with their goals.

If you want to take up something new for the month, or have you been wanting to get involved with saving our planet but are unsure how let us introduce you to Second Hand September. This campaign was set up by the charity Oxfam in 2019 to encourage people to shop second-hand and become more aware of how their clothes are made.

It is not shocking news to anyone that our shopping habits have gone off the rails in the past ten years. With fast fashion giants being the main clothing source for many, it can be easy to forget about the mega impact these cheaply made clothes can have on our environment.

Second Hand September is rooted in the ideals of putting an end to throw away culture and wearing clothing that is unique and has a story behind it. The Oxfam campaign leads with the appeal that “there was once a time, when what we wore meant something”, think of the mods and rockers of the 1960s, these people wore tailored suit jackets and Chelsea boots or leather jackets customised with studs and motifs to make themselves unique to this pop culture phenomenon.

This is the hard truth for many of us, we dress to fit in and not to stand out. As a society, we have gotten so used to micro trends that last a few short weeks before vanishing into the thousands of landfills that are slowly killing our beautiful planet. Oxfam purposefully coincides this fashion redemption with the many fashion week shows taking place in the month of September.

So, if you want to help stitch up our battered planet here are five ways that you can get involved with Second Hand September.

Donate

Maybe one of the most obvious ways to recycle your clothes is a good old wardrobe clean-out. It’s time to pull the winter clothes out of the attic and sort through the ones you do and do not wear. The garments that you no longer love but are still in good condition can be donated to local charity shops where they can be resold and re-loved.

Educate and Follow

Learn about the damage that fast fashion has on our environment. From the amount of water it takes to make your favourite pair of jeans to the carbon footprint created to get that outfit you ordered delivered to your doorstep. There are so many inspiring social media accounts leading the way to a more sustainable fashion industry.

Thrifting

@keilidhmua It was a successful trip #thrifting #dublin #comewithme #thriftwithme ♬ original sound – KeilidhMua

Thrift shopping has had a revival in recent years with people searching for vintage gems in the many stores dotted around the country. Although it may seem more time-consuming than popping into H&M or Zara you are sure to find some brilliant unique pieces if you are willing to dedicate the time. If you are new to thrifting, try searching for thrifting routes in your closest town or city on TikTok for helpful advice.

As soon as you have rummaged through a few charity and vintage stores, showcase your purchases on an Instagram reel or TikTok titled ‘Charity shop haul’ or ‘Thrifted OOTD’ to inspire others to follow in your footsteps.

@lottielashley Come 2nd hand shopping with me in Belfast #belfastcity #belfastvintage #charityshopping #tryonhaul #secondhandfashion #vintageshopping ♬ Aesthetic – Tollan Kim

Depop

Second-hand clothing platform, Depop is another fantastic way to get involved in Second Hand September. You can sell and buy preloved clothing on the site from hundreds of different sellers. Depop is a great way to recirculate clothing from highstreet to high end. Depop allows you to message the seller as well so you can discuss the price and delivery options.

Mend and Take Care

Another reason so many clothes end up in landfill is because we don’t wash them correctly. In our busy lives, it can be easy to just throw everything into the washing machine and not look at the specific requirements of garments, however, this can often lead to damage. It is important to check the label on the garment before washing it as it could be made from delicate fabrics, this way you can help prolong the life of the piece.

Mending clothes that are torn or a bit tattered is also another way of contributing to the campaign. If you or someone you know is handy with a needle and thread you can mend or upcycle some old pieces of clothing for next to nothing.

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