The month of September is all about second hand clothes; it’s about sustainable clothing, about helping reduce the harmful effect of ‘fast fashion’ on our planet and its people.

The fashion industry is responsible for around 10% of global carbon build-up, producing 5 times more CO2 than the aviation industry.

If you’re on a budget (and let’s face it, most of us are!) then taking the time to dive and rummage through a charity shop is a neat, but cheap way to update your wardrobe and make sure you stand out from the crowd (as little or as much as you want).

Think about this:

Do you have clothes in your wardrobe that are in great condition but you don’t wear them for whatever reason? Or maybe something that you wore often but is no longer your style, no longer fits, or you just don’t love it anymore?

You wouldn’t just throw away something that’s in perfectly good condition just because you don’t wear it anymore, right?

Someone should get some use out of it. And chances are, this person is going to fall in love with it, just like you did!

By going through your wardrobe and donating your unworn or less-loved clothes, you’ll be helping stop 11 million tons of waste going to landfill every week!

Sustainable fashion is all about slowing down in regards to fashion.

Buying secondhand clothing is a big part of the slow fashion movement, you’re purchasing something that has already been in circulation, that already has a story, that’s already been through the production process; that’s already used up it’s environmental quota. 

One of the amazing things about being at KC, is all the different styles, different cliches, different people who make up both our staff and our students. And shopping second hand, gives you access to both some pretty unique clothing and some timeless staples.

The majority of clothing that you will find in charity and vintage shops are completely unique.

The chances of there being two of the same item in the same secondhand shop or in other charity shops stores are slim to none.

And chances are, you won’t be able to find the same piece ever again because they’re probably no longer being made, especially vintage clothing.

So if you want one-of-a-kind clothing, shopping secondhand is a great way to get them.

Secondhand shopping also means you may be able to bag one of those timeless pieces that go with everything; something you can wear day in and day out which suits your style! 

When shopping secondhand clothing, you’re saving resources and doing the environment a solid favour. This is because the resources have already been used to make the piece of clothing.

Instead of buying a new shirt or pair of pants that consumes resources to make it and distribute it to a store near you, buying used clothing doesn’t deplete any more resources.

So there are some serious environmental benefits to checking out the local charity shops! 

When you purchase secondhand clothing instead of buying new from retailers, you’re reducing the demand for fast fashion.

These days, fast fashion brands are just spitting out new, cheap clothing because a lot of people have adopted the mentality that clothes are easily discarded.

With climate change being a huge thing right now, and rightly so, every little thing we can do will help. 

So have a wardrobe cull, bag it up and take your unloved clothes to a charity shop; instead of shopping new, take a look around the local second hand places for a bargain or statement piece. 

Take a look at a few of the resources we found whilst researching this article, hopefully it’ll inspire you to go through your wardrobe, donate the things you no longer wear and take a look at what the local charity and vintage stores have to offer! 

Keep an eye on the blog next week for some tips and tricks you can use for shopping secondhand!