Second Hand September is an annual initiative that encourages people to explore and embrace second-hand shopping for the entire month of September. The campaign is typically aimed at promoting sustainability, reducing waste, and raising awareness about the environmental impact of fast fashion.
Why Shop Second Hand?
Environmental Impact
Reduces Waste: Purchasing second-hand items helps divert goods from landfills, contributing to a decrease in overall waste.
Lowers Carbon Footprint: By reusing existing items, you reduce the need for new production, which cuts down on the carbon emissions associated with manufacturing and transportation.
Cost Savings
Affordable Prices: Second-hand items are generally much cheaper than new ones, allowing you to save money or get higher-quality goods for less.
Unique Finds
One-of-a-Kind Items: Thrift and vintage stores often carry unique and eclectic items that you won’t find in mainstream stores, offering a chance to stand out with distinctive fashion and decor.
Escape the trend cycle: Break free from the trap of overconsumption just to fit in.
Supports Local Economy
Boosts Small Businesses: Many second-hand stores are independently owned, so your purchases help support local entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Quality and Craftsmanship
High-Quality Goods: Older items, especially vintage pieces, are often made with superior craftsmanship and materials, offering durability and longevity.
Ethical Considerations
Avoids Fast Fashion: Second-hand shopping helps you steer clear of the ethical issues associated with fast fashion, such as poor labor conditions and environmental degradation.
Customization Opportunities
DIY Projects: Many second-hand items can be customized or repurposed, allowing you to personalize them according to your tastes and preferences.
Social Impact
Charity Shops: Some second-hand stores are run by charities, so your purchases can contribute to important causes and support community initiatives.
The Darker Side of Second-hand
As the popularity of thrifting continues to grow, it is crucial to take into account additional factors. There are some hard truths we need to face about donating clothes. First there's the reality that only 10-30% of clothing donations are actually sold in stores. The rest are sold to textile recycling companies, repurposed by the thrift store, or most often exported to the second hand markets in the global south (including Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, South Africa, Uganda, Chile).
The rise of fast fashion is plaguing the thrift stores of low quality synthetic clothing. The garments exported are often of such poor quality that traders have to sell them at a loss. The majority of clothes that can’t be sold end up on nearby beaches and in makeshift landfills. There the synthetics in the fibers percolate through the soil into the groundwater, impacting local drinking water and air quality. Donating clothes might seem "out of sight, out of mind" for us, but it is suffocating communities oversees.
Shopping second-hand is better than buying new fast fashion. However, social media trends influencing "thrift hauls" can promote overconsumption. Shifting the disease of overconsumption from fast fashion brands to thrift stores doesn't fix the underlying issue. The most sustainable piece of clothing is the one already in your closet. So before donating, or thrifting, be mindful about what you have and what you want, then think about how you can make that happen. Second-hand September also includes clothing swaps, upcycling, and taking care of your clothes so that you don't feel compelled to abandon them for something new.
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