Edited by Martha Evans, and Pictures by Tom Guyton-Day

By Chloe Martin, Editor of Lifestyle

I recently found an old t-shirt I wore to a One Direction concert (yes, I was *cough* am a fan girl) from 2014 under my bed. Just from looking at it the memories came flooding back. Maybe not all clothes hold memories and feelings, but some do. A quick fling into the washing machine, and it’s good to go. 

If more people had this mentality, 13 million items of perfectly great clothing are less likely to end up in landfill sites each week. We need to learn how to love and appreciate the clothes we own or learn how to give them to someone who really needs them. 

Over the past year and during the global pandemic, the desire for second-hand clothing has dramatically spiked. Now, it’s all about purposeful purchasing, rather than buying something new for the sake of one event or a last-minute dinner date.

#SecondHandSeptember was created by Oxfam to emphasise the harmful impact buying new can have on the planet. Throwaway fashion is an unsustainable way to sell and buy clothes, which is why I think we should all aim to reuse and recycle our old clothes, not just for September, but to help sustain the future of our planet.

According to Oxfam, it would take 13 years to drink the water needed to create one pair of blue jeans and a t-shirt. There are still millions of people who are clueless to how clothes are made, the impact on the planet and the amount of textile waste that is building. Second-Hand September shows us we have the power to give clothes a longer life, easing the pressure off the planet and people. 

Buying from the local charity shop or purchasing a one-off vintage designer piece isn’t just beneficial for the planet, but for your wallet and the local community too. Pre-owned fashion is cheaper, so it allows those who may not be able to afford a certain piece of clothing to buy something that’s as good as new. 

If you are after the latest trends, this is still possible. Maybe not always second-hand, but there are an increasing number of brands that are fully sustainable so you can shop the next big thing without having a guilty conscience. 

Instead of throwing away an item that isn’t on-trend anymore, keep it. You may think I’m crazy if you live in a small flat in London, but there are ways to keep your loved pieces. Fashion trends often come back around in a few years or decades, so holding onto those key pieces will pay you dividends in the future. You’ll be thankful you kept it. 

If you’re a designer lover, there are several vintage and second-hand designer outlets online and around London that offer you the chance to buy pre-loved classic designs. If you’ve always wanted to own a classic Burberry trench, now is your chance to buy one at a fraction of the normal price. 

Being more conscious about fashion buying habits and buying second-hand can help give back to the local community, find unique pieces that no one else is wearing and become more eco-friendly. Everyone can do their bit to develop a recycling community and to reduce the constant need for new garments. 
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Whether you’re new to second-hand shopping, or you’re a regular looking for your next fashion vision, there are shedloads of fresh and on-trend second-hand inspiration on Instagram. To get you started, here is a gallery of second-hand Instagram outfits to show you how you can turn someone’s pre-loved garments into your new favourite wardrobe pieces…

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Edited by Martha Evans

By Zeena Mistry

By Zeena Mistry, edited by Tom Guyton-Day

By ​Dr Simon Stevens, edited by Martha Evans