This year, presenter Cat Deeley is the face of Oxfam's Secondhand September campaign. Long a lover of charity shops and thrifted fashion, the star admits to regularly presenting in pre-loved items, building a wardrobe full of clothes she's thrifted over the years.
"You can find something completely unique, knowing the money has gone to a good cause and you’re giving those clothes a second chance of life. Second hand absolutely does not mean second best," she shares.
Heard of Secondhand September but not sure what the month-long initiative actually entails or why it's so important that you get involved if you can?
In short, it's a campaign designed to encourage the nation to shop second hand, take a stance against fast fashion and dress for a fairer world. For the month of September, they encourage Brits to only buy vintage clothes or pre-loved items and style items they already own in new and unique ways rather than shopping fast fashion.
Why's it so important? Well, in short, because we're facing a climate crisis and fast fashion is one of the major culprits. Clothes being produced in high volume and sold at a low cost have a huge carbon footprint and harms both people and planet. Fast fashion alone is thought to produce as much as 92 million tonnes of waste every year.
That's where Oxfam comes in with their secondhand initiative. "By shopping secondhand with Oxfam or donating to Oxfam shops, you’re investing your money in vital work beating poverty around the world," explains Harriet Hernando, PR officer at Oxfam.
"You’re also supporting people to speak out and stand up to the climate crisis and helping create a better fairer and greener future for everyone," she continues.
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Your guide to Secondhand September, plus how to get involved
What is Secondhand September?
According to Hernando, Secondhand September is, simply put, Oxfam’s campaign to celebrate shopping pre-loved.
"It's also to raise awareness about the harmful effects of fast fashion on our planet and the people who make our clothes," she explains. "Oxfam wants to encourage people to think twice about their shopping habits, so we’re asking the public to only buy second hand for the month of September and to donate their pre-loved items to Oxfam."
A bit of history for you - the Secondhand September campaign is now in its sixth year, with more than 50,000 people sharing the #SecondHandSeptember hashtag on social media last year.
"The Oxfam Online Shop has seen more than 8,000 new shoppers and an uplift in sales of 46% in previous years," explains Hernando. "People really embraced the campaign to wear second-hand and, in doing so, raised funds for Oxfam’s work beating poverty around the world."
It's simple - anyone can get involved by following the three steps below:
1. Donate
Got some old clothes lying around that just don't fit you anymore or may look better on someone else? Take them to your local Oxfam to do your bit.
You can find your nearest Oxfam shop using the online shop finder tool on the Oxfam website.
2. Shop
Not got any clothes to donate but keen to invest in some pre-loved fashion? You can also shop from the comfort of your home on the Oxfam online shop, explains Hernando.
3. Social
If you do manage to grab a secondhand bargain, don’t forget to share your one-of-a-kind find using the #SecondHandSeptember hashtag and tagging @OxfamGB.
That way, you help raise awareness of shopping more sustainably this September and in months to come, too.
Most people don't realise Oxfam has a whole secondhand site online, so if you're shopping for something specific, try their site first.
"You can filter to find a particular brand, style, colour to find what you’re looking for," explains Hernando.
2. Repair, repair, repair
Instead of throwing damaged clothes away, why not try and fix them?
"Missing buttons can be replaced and holes can be mended to get the most out of your clothes for longer," the expert advises.
3. Try upcycling
Ever considered upcycling clothes and refashioning them into something you need or love? "A cashmere jumper could become a cashmere beanie in no time," explains Hernando.
4. Organise your wardrobes seasonally
This one's simple but seriously effective. "At the end of each season, try putting your clothes away in storage boxes and getting them out again the following year," advises the expert. "You’ll be surprised how those clothes start to feel ‘new’ again after a little separation."
Ally Head is Marie Claire UK's Senior Health and Sustainability Editor, nine-time marathoner, and Boston Qualifying runner. Day-to-day, she heads up all strategy for her pillars, working across commissioning, features, and e-commerce, reporting on the latest health updates, writing the must-read wellness content, and rounding up the genuinely sustainable and squat-proof gym leggings worth *adding to basket*. She's won a BSME for her sustainability work, regularly hosts panels and presents for events like the Sustainability Awards, and is a stickler for a strong stat, too, seeing over nine million total impressions on the January 2023 Wellness Issue she oversaw. Follow Ally on Instagram for more or get in touch.
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