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This month, Oxfam has launched a Second Hand September campaign. They are asking people to pledge to stop buying new clothes for 30 days. Do you think that you could be up to the challenge? Well, I also think that it is the perfect opportunity to make some money!
*this post has been updated – it was originally posted in September 2019
Second Hand September
Start today not by just not buying anything new for the next 30 days.
We really do need to think about how sustainable our wardrobes are. Fast fashion is one of the worst things for the environment. Figures are rising, but last year the UK threw away over 230 million tonnes of clothing to landfill. When you think about how long some of those synthetic fibres may take to decompose, it really is not good to just keep buying more and more clothes.
Has lockdown made us more sustainable?
It’s an astonishing fact, but did you know that there are enough clothing items here on Earth to clothe the next 6 generations of humans? That is just a huge amount of clothing. Do we really need all this cloth in circulation? No!
Now, I personally am not buying myself many new clothes. I wear the ones I have until they are worn out. And actually I prefer to make mine, even resolving to use as much of my cloth scraps as possible.
But even if I do buy anything, it makes ecological and economic sense to buy second hand. Or if you are set on investing in some new clothes, make sure you buy from sustainable clothing brands.
Where Could You Look If You Do Need Some New Clothes Over The Next 30 Days?
Why not try
- eBay – you can use the filter to find new clothes with tags on at a fraction of the shop prices
- Table Top sales and car boots – though car boot sales are less active over the winter months
- Charity shops – which these days often have brand new top designer clearance and delabelled items too. You can get some real bargains – Check this article out about the top tips for shopping at charity shops.
Buying Preloved Could Save You £££
Just this week, I bought my little girl some new shoes for school. They were £42! Now, I had some vouchers that needed using before they expired, or else I would not have bought new. But whilst I was there I took the opportunity to have her feet measured.
I will buy the next few pairs she needs on eBay. I have found some new shoes and hardly worn shoes on there for a fraction of the cost. Children grow so quickly that it just makes such great sense. We hardly get any wear out of the shoes, and if they are still in good condition, once I am finished with them I could even consider selling them back on eBay too.
Do You Wear Your Full Wardrobe?
And Second Hand September may be the perfect time to make a little money too from clothes that you will never wear. If you are anything like me, you probably only wear a fraction of the clothes in your closet.
This year I have had plenty of time for a clear out. But there are still a lot of clothes in my wardrobe that I cannot get into, or that I don’t wear.
Well why not have a clear out and sell some on eBay?
See here my system for clearing clutter.
You could make a little bit of cash doing this. And feel a bit lighter in the process. Or donate what you don’t want to charity. It just makes sense to recycle the clothes to where they are more useful. And your unwanted clothes could be just what someone else is looking for the Second Hand September!
Read my article on how to list on eBay.
Could you Remodel Some of Your Clothes?
Or why not refashion some of the clothes that you won’t wear again? Are you handy with a needle? Why not try to upcycle them and refashion into something different?
I had a maternity dress from Frugi that I got very little wear from. The top was a loose breastfeeding design, it was too long and did not have pockets.
So I cut the bodice from the skirt, used the Bettine pattern to remodel the skirt and added the pockets, making it more of a tunic length. This top has already been worn lots, and as we go into the colder months will get a lot of wear.
So, I hope that this has given you a little food for thought this Second Hand September.
Looking to donate? Here are some great alternative ways of donating.
There are some things that are maybe not worth buying second hand. See this post for some of these.
Like my ideas? Why not pin this post for later?
This is really beautiful and creative of you.
Thank you for sharing.
Up until recently, I rarely bought myself new clothes. But I was in desperate need as my clothes were becoming old and worn. I did donate all my old clothes to a lovely lady who upcycles clothes into new designs which I loved as I’m not talented in that area. #kcacols
I must admit, I bought myself a new coat this week, and doing so I realised that I hadn’t bought myself a new coat since before E was born.
I think every month is second hand september for me, I love to rematch clothes in my wardrobe and well over half my wardrobe is from charity shops. #KCACOLS
I must admit, a lot of my clothes have been preloved from eBay.
What a fantastic initiative and I need to get on board with this. My collection of clothes is totally out of hand, but I put that down to losing a lot of weight and just embracing the new me. I don’t know as if I am as creative as you in terms of redesigning my clothing to make better use of it, but I shall certainly try and utilise my clothes instead of moaning about having nothing to wear! Sim x #PoCoLo
Well done on the weight loss. Certainly you will need to buy some new clothes. But I do remember when I last lost a lot of weight I did keep some of my old shirts which were long enough to be worn as belted in dresses!
I really need to get on board with this. I have been guilty of buying new clothes (some I haven’t even worn once) whenever I go shopping.
#kcacols
I have done too. And I do resolve to never do it again.
This sounds like such a good initiative. I’m really lucky when it comes to my daughter as she has a few older cousins who pass clothes on to her a few times a year. And then we pass them on again to a friend of mine for her daughter! They grow so quickly that most clothes don’t get a chance to get worn out! x #KCACOLS
Yes, I too have been lucky that a couple of friends have passed clothed on. But I do love scouring eBay and the charity shops for preloved too, Just makes sense as you say they either get grown out of quickly or get torn/stained etc.
I’ve bought so many fabulous clothes second-hand recently. It’s great for the bank-balance too!! #KCACOLS
Exactly! Amazes me that I used to buy so many new things that were expensive at full price.
I have bought some cracking outfits on Ebay, and like the idea of second hand september, though I’ve seriously failed to even attempt this. I think with a lot of things though, it comes down to time as buying this way definitely needs more of that, and as someone who’s not a browser of shops that part doesn’t appeal so much. I’m much more into the remodelling side, andhave some t-shirts that the neck is too high on, my plan is to cut them lower so they work for me and add some crochet edging. Now to make it happen! Thanks for sharing with #PoCoLo
Ooh, I would love to see your tops when they are done!
I’ll agree we all need to do this more. I am a regular frequenter of charity shops and second hand purchases. As well as accepting or passing on hand me downs throughout family. I’ll admit that this month I have made some new clothing purchases in an effort to boost my enthusiasm for embarking on some fitness. #KCACOLS
Why buy new when there are so many clothes already out there? Good luck with your fitness goals.
I really dig this idea, I havent brought any clothes this September and just rotated my clothes so I can use my old clothes that I have forgotten about. X
#kcacols
I must admit, I haven’t really bought very much for myself in a while. But then I do make myself clothes.
I’m all for wearing pre-loved clothes, I do like an ebay purchase or two. I also love going to second hand stores for my daughter clothes, you can always find some absolute bargains. Thank you so much for linking up with #kcacols and we hope to see you next time.
Thank you.
A fantastic idea! I’ve had a no spend September but through necessity as I’m now on zero pay maternity leave!
Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time