Second-hand clothing is back in fashion this September

Second Hand September highlights the environmental damage caused by textile production - a highly intensive process which often relies on pesticides, toxic chemicals and vast amounts of water.   

In the UK approximately 350,000 tonnes of clothing is binned each year rather than being passed on or recycled, wasting valuable resources and further adding to the negative impact that textiles have on the environment.  

This Second Hand September, the Council is joining others to encourage people to shop second-hand where possible and make sure old clothing is reused or recycled.  

If anyone has clothes that aren’t good enough to pass on, the message is not to put them in the rubbish bin. Clothing, shoes, slippers, blankets, towels, bedsheets and curtains can all be recycled at the kerbside. Residents simply need to leave them out for collection next to their recycling wheelie bin in a tied carrier bag to keep them dry. 

All of Oxfordshire’s Household Recycling Centres also accept textiles, and there are charity recycling banks for clothing and textiles in the district. Nearly all textiles can be reused, either being repurposed as clothing or as secondary raw materials for the car, building and textile industries.   

Lidia Arciszewska, Executive Member for Environment at West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “Second Hand September is a great reminder of the ways we can enjoy fashion without it having a huge negative cost to our planet, for example by buying second-hand or swapping clothes with friends.  

“The good news is that two-thirds of people in the UK say they have bought second-hand clothing and the vintage market is booming, particularly among young people. By 2032, it’s predicted that sales in the second-hand clothing market could overtake those of fast fashion. 

“We hope that lots of people will be inspired to think second-hand this September and beyond.” 

Climate Action Oxfordshire is a partnership between Oxfordshire County Council and the five district authorities, including West Oxfordshire District Council.  

The Climate Action Oxfordshire website (www.climateactionoxfordshire.org.uk) contains guides on shopping more sustainably, looking after clothes so they last longer and how to buy the best quality second-hand clothes.  

Throughout the month, West Oxfordshire District Council will be sharing information on its social media channels and highlighting the work of repair cafes in the district, many of which have volunteers available to fix broken zips and carry out other clothing repairs and alterations to give clothing a new lease of life in return for a small donation.  

The Second Hand September awareness month was initiated by Oxfam in 2019.