Second Hand September is upon us again! When starting to plan your new wardrobe for Autumn Winter, join us in taking the pledge to shop more consciously by choosing preloved fashion this year! Started by Oxfam, #SecondHandSeptember is all about out with the new, and in with the old!
Join us in taking the Pledge!
To get you started we wanted to share with you our top tips on how to build a sustainable wardrobe! Check them out below!
1) Shop Vintage or Pre-loved
Ok lets start with the obvious! A super-easy way to make a change in more ways than one. Shopping in vintage stores means you;
- Extend the lifespan of clothing
- Reduce demand on high-street giants
- Can find unique, one-off pieces
- Save money
- Find better quality clothing that will continue to stand the test of time
- Help reduce the amount of textile going to landfill
2) Repair & Re-Use!
Of course we know it can be tempting to see damage like a hole or a stain on an item and immediately throw it out, but constantly replacing items leads to overconsumption and that's not good!
Not only does it cost you money to replace the item but it also adds to the demand for new clothing which encourages big retailers to produce at an unsustainable pace. To break away from this loop of buying and discarding, and to create a more eco-friendly wardrobe, invest in a small sewing kit (or just needles and thread tbh!) and get crafty.
To kick you off, here are some helpful tutorials!
- How to sew a ripped hole in clothing
- How to repair a hole in a t-shirt
- 4 ways to mend clothing by hand
- How to sew on a button
- How to mend & hem clothes
3) Quality over Quantity
With new trends being pushed by big fashion stores every season, it can be a lot of pressure to keep up constantly with new looks leading to buying clothes you simply do not need or won't wear again!
Buying multiple, cheap, trend-led pieces can be stressful, costly and unsustainable; it's important to consider every piece you buy and weigh up how much wear you will get out of it versus the impact of that piece. If you can't bear the thought of leaving the shop without this piece that you'll wear over and over, then go for it, but if you're unlikely to want to wear it after this season, the consider leaving it behind. Instead, opt for timeless pieces that you know will fit your style for years to come, in doing this you will automatically start to have a much more curated style unique to you.
4) Clothes Swap with your friends!
Everyone has at least a few pieces sitting in their wardrobe, untouched for years. Whether gathering dust under your bed, crumpled in the back of your wardrobe or still hanging with the tags on, you're bound to have some clothes you want to get rid of. Whether you get together with a few friends or invite your whole neighbourhood, a clothes swap is a fun and lively way of refreshing your wardrobe without spending a dime!
5) Donate your old clothes!
We are fashion lovers and do like buying new things! Making room for new (second hand!) items? Well make sure that you are getting rid of your old items sustainably so they don't end up in landfill! Here's a few ways to do that:
- Clothes Swap like above!
- Bring them into a Beyond Retro Store and trade them as part of our Exchange Programme!
- Did you buy online from us? Re-list it on Beyond Retro Marketplace!
- Donate to a clothing bank - such as Love not Landfill in our stores!