Secondhand September | Conscious Fashion
It’s September, which means, it’s Secondhand September!
Haven’t heard of it before?
Worry not, we’ve got you covered!
Secondhand September is essentially an initiative that encourages us to take a closer look at mainstream fashion and its issues of overproduction, overconsumption and the subsequent waste it generates. According to Global Fashion Agenda, the rise of fashion, there is an estimated 92 million tonnes of textiles waste being generated each year!
Fast fashion has drastically changed the way that we think about clothing. Trends now change rapidly and new collections are being constantly churned out. Overconsumption and disposable clothing has become normalised. This has two major issues:
- Massive increase in textile wastes that is straining our landfills and resources
- The environmental cost of producing raw materials to the pollution from manufacturing processes, the fashion industry’s footprint is massive
Enter Secondhand September!
Secondhand September offers an alternative way of thinking about the fast fashion model. In this month, you pledge to buy only secondhand clothing for the entire month. In doing so, you are part of a movement that promotes sustainability and ethical consumption.
By purchasing second hand, you are fundamentally extending the life of a garment that would otherwise be in landfill or would be incinerated. In doing so, you are reducing the need for new clothing production, minimising waste and conserving resources.
But, why September?
Beyond the alliteration that the month naturally lends, September is a particularly symbolic month for this initiative to be rolled out. Fashion Week and new trends and collections for Autumn or Winter begins in September.
By choosing to focus on secondhand clothing during this month, the focus is steered for people to rethink their consumption choices when it comes to clothing. The pledge was started by Oxfam, encouraging people to explore and embrace the joy of pre-loved fashion.
How can you be a part of the movement?
Secondhand and pre-loved clothing have always been a part of the Indian DNA. Traditionally, hand me downs have been a cultural practice, with clothes moving from one sibling to the next and eventually the garment being cut into several pieces for it to be used for cleaning purposes.
Start with mindfulness. Before you purchase any item, really think about if you really require it. Start by using what you already have in your wardrobes.
And if you don’t have it, you can borrow or swap with a friend or a cousin! This helps revamp your wardrobe and spruce up what you currently have.
You can also engage your creative side of your brain to make your own dresses using fabric that’s lying at home. Or even better, you can turn an old saree into a dress or a suit, the possibilities are truly limitless.
And then once you’ve run out of these options, thrift!
Purchasing from thrift stores helps reduce the demand for new clothing and supports a more sustainable fashion model.
Walk the talk by embracing this lifestyle and spread awareness about the benefits of secondhand shopping. By engaging in conversation about the impact of the fast fashion industry can help more individuals switch to a kinder consumption choice.
And how does it help?
Embracing secondhand fashion choices, firstly has a huge impact on the environment by reducing the demand for new clothing production and decreasing textile waste going into our landfills.
As an individual customer, second hand clothing is often more affordable than buying something brand new. It’s an opportunity to discover one-of-a-kind pieces that add a unique touch to your wardrobe.
This September, let’s celebrate the value of secondhand style and make a meaningful impact on the fashion industry. In participating in this movement that promotes sustainability and challenges the norms of fast fashion, you are part of a movement that paves the way for a more conscious and eco friendly future.