Thrifting, Swapping, Borrowing, Renting… What do all of these have in common? Well, these are all different ways you can be a part of the secondhand fashion movement. For years, we have all heard activists argue for a green and clean environment. But how do we achieve that?
Second Hand September, a campaign initiated by Oxfam, encourages buyers like you and me to stave off buying new clothes, every September, and opt for pre-owned clothing, instead. As a global charitable organization, OXFAM has been promoting this idea for the past five years. It’s a small step that has helped in creating a vision toward a sustainable future. The aim behind this campaign is to raise awareness about the environmental and social impact of fast fashion and consumerism while promoting sustainable and ethical fashion choices. Here’s why it matters.
It challenges impulse buying
The thrill of buying a new pair of shoes or dress promises a fresh start with an unmatched adrenaline rush. In fact, the word ‘sale’ is enough to push us into making impulse buying decisions and justifying them. Yes, it feels great to indulge once in a while, but we need to understand the impact of those shopping choices on the planet and people. Did you know, it takes approximately 7,000 liters of water to produce a single pair of jeans? Just imagine!
What if we told you, you can, in fact, feel that same rush with preloved clothes? Any item, even if previously owned, will be a new addition to your wardrobe–it may not be new, but it’s still new for you!
It’s changing mindsets
The campaign is all about promoting different options when it comes to clothes. Vintage shops or thrift shops, till recently, were an alien concept to us, in India. But movements like Second Hand September have brought secondhand fashion closer home. It promotes selling and buying of secondhand clothes (in good condition), reusing, borrowing, renting and donating clothes. One may even consider donating a few used products, after every new purchase, for the less privileged.
The way we view different choices is mostly our own perception of our experiences and of those around us. It’s the same when it comes to buying and selling secondhand clothes. Oxfam has taken a constructive step towards sustainable fashion. And, we can choose to give this a try by joining in the mission for building a brighter tomorrow.
It’s helping reduce fashion’s footprint
According to Oxfam, if everyone in the UK, alone, took part in Second Hand September, we could save the same amount of emissions as flying a plane around the world 900 times! Over the last five years, Second Hand September has generated significant change, in terms of awareness and ownership. The Oxfam Online Shop has added more than 8,000 new shoppers and witnessed a 46% rise in sales. According to Oxfam Scotland, 14,000 tonnes of clothing (over 47 million items) are diverted from landfill, each year, through being donated to Oxfam. In the year 2022, as many as 50,000 people shared the #SecondHandSeptember hashtag on different social media platforms. Now, wouldn’t you like to be part of this revolution!
