Four Ways to Go Beyond Second Hand September

A staggering 11 million items of clothing end up in landfill every week, which is bad for the planet and our purses as we’re constantly buying items we don’t really need.

As the UK’s largest garment alteration company, The Zip Yard fully supported Oxfam’s Second Hand September campaign urging people not to buy new clothes for the month.

However, that doesn’t mean you should revert to old habits in October. Here are our four top tips for making a difference throughout autumn and beyond.

Make Loved Clothes Last

You don’t have to continuously buy new clothes just because you lack the skills to repair your existing ones.

Don’t throw something out because the zip is broken or a button has fallen off. Buy a sewing kit or, if the repair or alteration task is beyond your skills, head to your nearest Zip Yard. Our skilled seamstresses can repair and alter your clothes so they fit better and last longer.

Shop Second-Hand and Vintage

Buying vintage means you can let your individual style shine through so take a trip to your nearest vintage or charity shop and have a good ol’ rummage for some hidden gems.

Second-hand shops aren’t the only place you can find great vintage pieces as many luxury fashion retailers are also giving discerning shoppers what they want for the longer term.

Make the Most of Your Wardrobe

With celebrities and influencers documenting how they rework their wardrobes, there’s no excuse for any of us not to make the most of what is already hanging in our wardrobe.

Cleverly purchased staples can go a long way. Ask yourself if there are multiple ways in which you’d wear your new piece to ensure you get good use out of it and mix essentials with stand-out pieces too, as these are the items that will stop you getting bored of your clothes. Instead of buying pieces that will go unworn, invest in a classic white shirt or leather jacket.

Rent Your Wardrobe

With fashion being one of the world’s most polluting industries, sharing our wardrobes makes a lot of sense. Rental and clothes swaps reduce the risk of panic buying for one occasion – blame Instagram! – that feeds into the fast fashion cycle.

Although rental fashion isn’t a new phenomenon, an increase in concerns about the environment has made hiring clothes more popular than ever.