Second Hand September: Why Buying Preloved Matters More Than Ever

Katie, a Volunteer at Oxfam Shop Putney. Courtesy of Amber Ahmad / Oxfam

By 2050, the fashion industry is projected to create 138 billion unworn items of clothing, enough to almost stretch from Earth to Mars and back.

That is around four outfits for every person alive, destined to gather dust. This is the reality Second Hand September is trying to challenge.

Now in its seventh year and fronted in 2025 by actor and activist Jameela Jamil, the campaign asks people to rethink what they wear.

Jamil summed it up simply: whoever decided it was scandalous to repeat an outfit was, in her words, an insecure, wasteful clown.

Why did Oxfam create Second Hand September?

Second Hand September began in 2019 when Oxfam challenged people to stop buying new clothes for a month. It was designed to highlight the environmental damage and waste associated with fast fashion.

Since then, it has evolved into a global campaign with tens of thousands of participants every year.

The idea is simple:

• Say no to new clothes for the whole of September

• Shop second-hand in charity shops, online resale apps or vintage markets

• Donate your own clothes so someone else can give them a new life
  

Oxfam’s research shows that Britain’s wardrobes are overflowing with an estimated 1.6 billion unused items.

If all of those were worn again, they could clothe the entire population of Manchester for around 18 generations. The average item in the UK is worn fewer than five times, spending more than 99 per cent of its life just sitting in a wardrobe.

Why did Oxfam create it? Clothes sales in Oxfam shops raise millions every year for projects tackling poverty and climate change.

When you donate and buy second-hand, you reduce waste and help fund clean water, education and emergency aid around the world.

The fashion industry is one of the world’s biggest polluters, responsible for around 10 per cent of global carbon emissions.

By 2050, it is predicted that the production of 138 billion unworn items will occur annually if no changes are made. Every second-hand purchase is a direct way to cut demand for new production.

Second Hand September is more than a challenge. For many people, it becomes the spark to rethink their relationship with clothes and start building lasting habits around reuse and sustainability.

What’s New for 2025?

This year marks the seventh anniversary of Second Hand September, and the campaign has expanded well beyond charity shops. Oxfam has teamed up with major retailers and apps to make it part of everyday life.

Vinted

The resale app, Vinted, has millions of UK users and has made second-hand shopping mainstream. It is free to list items, and buyers can find high street and designer brands for up to 80 per cent less than retail. Parents often sell bundles of children’s clothes at bargain prices. Sellers can use Vinted’s postage system for simple, trackable deliveries.

M&S and Sainsbury’s

Both M&S & Sainsbury's now offer clothing donation bins in-store, making it easy to donate as part of the weekly shop. At M&S, the scheme has recently been relaunched under the name Another Life, building on more than a decade of partnership with Oxfam. Since 2008, it has collected over 36 million garments and raised an estimated £23 million for the charity’s work. Customers who donate a bag of clothes that includes at least one M&S item receive a £5 voucher to use when they spend £35 or more.

How the M&S, Another Life, resale service works:

• Customers complete a short form on M&S.com or scan QR codes in M&S Fashion, Home and Beauty stores

• Preloved items are sent using a free local courier service to Reskinned

• If the return includes at least one M&S-labelled item, a £5 voucher is issued for use on M&S.com when spending £35 or more on fashion, home or beauty (valid for four weeks)

• Items that can be worn again are professionally cleaned, repaired and listed by Reskinned on the official M&S x eBay store

• Items that cannot be resold are responsibly repurposed or recycled

• Customers can shop directly for preloved products through the M&S x eBay store
  

This makes it simple to clear space at home, earn a reward, and know your clothes are being given a second life. Oxfam continues to benefit as the charity partner, receiving a share of profits from the resale programme.

Sainsbury’s has also stepped up, with donation points at many larger stores. This makes giving clothes a second life as easy as picking up your groceries.

Mamas and Papas

Babies and toddlers outgrow clothes at lightning speed. The partnership with Mamas and Papas encourages parents to donate outgrown clothes and baby gear.

Items are resold or recycled, reducing waste and supporting families who need affordable options.

These partnerships show how far the campaign has come. Once seen as niche, second-hand fashion is now normal. Big brands supporting it signal a cultural shift. Buying preloved is increasingly viewed as smart, stylish and responsible.

Local Events and Community Spirit

The 2025 campaign is not limited to clothing. In London’s The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, as an example, you will find a Sustainability Fair, Climate Café, mending workshops and a Fix It Fest for repairing furniture, clothes and even tech.

Across the UK, many local councils and community groups are running swap shops, repair cafés and charity fundraisers during September. It is worth checking what is happening in your area if you want to get involved.

On 18th September, Oxfam will once again take a spot at London Fashion Week with its Style for Change runway show in partnership with Vinted.

Styled by thrifting pioneer Bay Garnett and featuring celebrity supporters, the show will put second-hand centre stage at one of fashion’s biggest events.

How You Can Take Part in Second-Hand September

You do not need to change everything at once. Small steps matter, and here are practical ways to join in this September.

Pledge to go a month without buying new.

Sign Oxfam’s online pledge and commit for 30 days. Treat it like a challenge similar to Dry January. Track your progress and see how much money you save. Add the unspent money into a savings pot and decide at the end whether to donate it or use it for a second-hand purchase you genuinely need.

Shop preloved

Charity shops are full of bargains from winter coats under £20 to kids’ uniforms for pennies. Stock rotates quickly, so check regularly. Online resale apps like Vinted, Depop and eBay let you filter by size, brand or price. Markets and vintage fairs are ideal for unique finds.

To save even more, check cashback sites for offers and use discounted gift cards where possible.

Donate your own clothes.

Sort your wardrobe using the one-year rule. If you have not worn it in the past year, donate it. Drop bags at Oxfam, M&S Shop bins or Sainsbury’s donation points. Do not forget Gift Aid, which adds 25 per cent to the value of your donation at no cost to you.

Swap and share

Organise a clothing swap with friends, neighbours or at your child’s school. Kids outgrow their uniforms and shoes so quickly that swaps can save families hundreds of pounds each year. Apps like Olio and Facebook groups are also great for sharing clothes locally.

Repair and restyle

Learn basic repairs such as sewing on buttons or fixing hems with the help of YouTube tutorials. Try upcycling by turning old jeans into shorts or refreshing faded clothes with fabric dye. Many areas host repair cafés where volunteers can help fix items for free. A simple repair kit costing a few pounds can extend the life of clothes worth hundreds of pounds.

Rethink your wardrobe

Do a full wardrobe audit and rediscover what you already own. Try a capsule wardrobe challenge, limiting yourself to 20 to 30 versatile pieces for a month. Use the 30-wear rule when considering any future purchase. If you cannot imagine wearing it at least 30 times, skip it.

Share your journey

Use the hashtag #SecondHandSeptember to connect with others online. Post your best charity shop finds, before and after upcycles, or your savings total at the end of the month. Social accountability helps you stick to the challenge, and you may inspire others to join.

Extra Money Saving Tips

Second Hand September is not just good for the planet. It can save you serious money, too.

Charity shop clearance hacks

• End-of-season clearances often see rails reduced to £1 or £2. January is a peak time as shops fill with post-Christmas donations.

• Student areas are great for finding nearly new branded clothes at low prices.

• Bundle buying online on Vinted and eBay, as many sellers offer bundles of children’s clothes or gym wear for cheap. Bundles save on postage too. Do not be afraid to politely ask for a discount when buying more than one item.
  

• Cashback and voucher stacking: Check cashback sites before making online purchases. Pair with discounted gift cards from apps like JamDoughnut or Topcashback to double your savings.

• Yellow sticker accessories: Look out for reduced hats, gloves and shoes in supermarkets. Buying off-season and storing items for later saves money.

• Think beyond clothes: Second-hand deals are not limited to fashion. Charity shops and community groups offer cheap or free books, furniture, toys and even electronics. Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree often have items listed for free.
  

• Treat second-hand shopping like meal planning. Stock up on what you will need in advance. Buying a winter coat in September or school shoes a size up before they are actually needed prevents last-minute panic spending.
  

Second Hand September is proof that small actions add up. It is not about being perfect, it is about making conscious choices that save money and reduce waste.

I love the buzz around the campaign. I think it's a great way to think about sustainability, as well as decluttering and potentially even making some extra money!

This September, whether you donate, thrift, swap, repair or wear what you already own, you will be part of a movement that is changing how we think about clothes.