A guide to Second Hand September 2024

Second Hand September is back again! But what is it and how can you get involved? Read on to find out the lowdown...

What is Second Hand September?

Second Hand September is a campaign that was started by Oxfam in 2019 and asks people to take a stance against fast fashion and dress for a fairer world.

According to Oxfam, fashion has become one of the most polluting industries on the planet - it fuels climate change, from mass-production, transportation, water usage and more.

They say that by recirculating clothes (buying, wearing and donating second hand), then we help to reduce the demand, and ultimately the impact on the p[anet.

This month-long campaign encourages everyone to play their part. And whilst this is of course something you should be doing all year round, it's a good idea to have a reminder like this.

How do I get involved in Second Hand September?

Here's some simple ways you can get involved with the campaign:

1. Shop second hand for your clothes (and shoes, books and other items) - we have a handy map of charity shop locations (for the shops that accept the gift cards we give people in need), so you can use this to find your nearest shops. You probably already have your favourite charity shop, but try this map to see if there's somewhere different to visit

2. Donate clothes - you can of course donate clothing to charity shops, however this will involve you having to travel to them and at a time when they are open. With our partnership with reDonate, you can book a free doorstep collection for a day and time that suits you.

3. Share the message - if you know some friends or family that tend to always buy new clothes (and quite frequently), then make sure you share this blog post with them. You can also post your second hand clothing finds and fits on Instagram, using #SecondHandSeptember.

We hope this has inspired you to do more this September to help not only reduce the consumption of new clothing, but also to try and help others in need.

Let us know via our socials or the comments section below what you are doing this month.