Partaking in Second Hand September doesn’t have to be hard
If you’re making a concerted effort to shop more sustainably this September, here are some tips for making it a smooth transition.
Welcome to September, a month to which we’ve ascribed a lot of fashion-related significance. Transitioning us from summer to autumn, there’s already been a perceptible shift in temperature — and don’t think I haven’t noticed those evenings getting shorter. With Fashion Weeks taking place in New York, Paris and Milan, the seasonal shift brings with it the misguided notion that we’ve got to go out and replenish our wardrobes with all the latest microtrends. Which, of course, we absolutely do not.
So, in a bid to encourage conscious consumerism and sustainable shopping, Oxfam launched their ‘Second Hand September’ campaign back in 2019 — and it’s an initiative that sticks. Basically, it’s a challenge to forgo the purchase of new clothes for 30 days. Something that sounds simple for some and proves incredibly difficult for others, it’s an opportunity to reassess and reevaluate your purchasing habits, adopting a more mindful approach that will hopefully last throughout the month and beyond.
We’re in the throes of a climate crisis where the fashion industry is responsible for 20% of global waste water, and 8-10% of the world’s total global emissions. Textiles spend hundreds of years decomposing in landfill, and while clothing consumption is projected to rise by over 63% by 2030, the number of times a garment is worn has declined by around 36% in 15 years. Throwaway culture is rife.
On top of all that, social media and fast fashion influencers are propelling the already-way-too-rapid trend cycle so that a single month alone can see the dawning and decline of a must-have item in record speed. Take bloomers for example, the ‘festival season it-girl essential’ — they’re ‘out of style’ before they even come back into stock on ASOS.
The fact of the matter is that style is subjective, and opting to take part in Second Hand September will give you the much-needed pause to consider what really earns its place in your wardrobe, and what will work hard for you through autumn, into winter, and all year round. With this in mind, here are some top tips to circle back and touch base with throughout September, in those moments where the temptation to run into Zara seems like almost too much.
1. Adjust your mindset
Whether you’re someone who passively drifts in and out of high street stores and absentmindedly scrolls the ‘new in’ section online, or someone who makes it their mission to be bang on trend every time they leave the house, take Second Hand September as an opportunity to reassess the way you approach each new purchase.
Spend a little extra time deciding what’s a ‘want’ and what’s a ‘need’. Are you trying to build a capsule wardrobe of hardworking essentials, or take pride in your eclectic collection of colourful, maximalist pieces? Use this time to define and refine your style.
For the month ahead, pinpoint a couple of items that you actually genuinely need, and take the time rummaging through the rails of vintage shops and pre-loved markets. It will make the new work blazer or chunky autumnal knit all the more worth it.
2. Reacquaint yourself with your wardrobe
I, for one, am something of a hoarder when it comes to clothes. I attach a great deal of meaning to each item, which makes parting ways with them feel like some sort of sartorial betrayal. The upside is that I’ve always got a handful of pieces that leave me scratching my head, looking for a new way to make them work for the me who’ll be wearing them now. (Not to be confused with the me who bought them, we’re entirely different people.)
Styling your clothes in different ways, incorporating new accessories and layering are great ways to see each piece in a new light. You don’t have to be a seamstress to be able to crop and tuck and drape your clothes to suit your shape — you really just have to have a belt and a dream.
I would also recommend leafing through the pages of Laura de Barra’s Garment Goddess, which will help you time and time again with mending, reworking, and upcycling. If our clothes were nice enough to make us want to buy them in the first place, they should be nice enough for us to spend the time repairing when they rip or if a button falls off.
3. Recruit the troops
Naturally, no one wants to go it alone in this endeavour. Enlist the support of your friends, challenge them to do the same, and encourage one another to stay on track for the month of September. Organise days out to trawl through the charity shops in your local area together, or go a step further and arrange a ‘swap shop’, where everyone can bring a couple of items that no longer serve them, that someone else might be able to give a new lease of life to.
Plus, going shopping in your friends’ wardrobes is not to be underestimated. If you’ve got a special occasion or important event coming up that you believe merits a whole new look, hop into your WhatsApp group and see if you can pull something together from borrowed bits and pieces. These clothes deserve outings too, they’re no use pushed into the furthest corner of your wardrobe, looking all sad and forlorn.
4. Conduct a ‘following’ audit
The people you follow online, whether you like to admit it or not, have a part to play in informing your mindset. Haul culture is rampant, so if you’re being accosted by these huge volumes of purchases all the time, you’re going to start to think you should be doing the same. Similarly, micro trend merchants and fast fashion peddlers will have you thinking you need to be reinventing yourself every other day. It’s not weird to rewear clothes! Think of every character in every animated TV show ever!
I love following Louise McSharry and Tara Kumar for outfit inspiration on Instagram, because what I’m looking for isn’t affiliate links or discount codes, I’m looking for new ways to style what I already have in my wardrobe. We shouldn’t be looking to fashion influencers for outfits we can recreate piece by piece, but for inspiration on how to pair pieces together to make it look fresh every time.
5. Don’t deprive yourself
This isn’t no-buy September, this is you just dipping your toe in. You’re allowed to shop, so make sure you’re not making yourself miserable and closing your eyes while you run past all the high street stores advertising new-season stock and sales. Stand tall, put your shoulders back, and treat yourself to a rummage through vintage stores. Here, you can find some of the best around, according to the Irish style set.
The options are endless. Depop, pre-loved Etsy sellers, fashion rental companies, there are so many ways to replenish your wardrobe, without shopping for new pieces every time. What do you say, will you be partaking in Second Hand September?
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