Give fast fashion the boot this autumn – join us for Second Hand September!

The fashion industry might not be the first sector you think of when it comes to big polluters –but the sector is responsible for 10 percent of global pollution.

According to research, over 92 million tonnes of waste is generated by the industry annually, while a staggering 1.5 trillion litres of water is used to make clothes. On top of that, millions of items of clothing end up in landfills across the country every year.

Since 1975, the global production of textiles has exploded –almost tripling –while the price of clothes has plummeted. Lower prices have seen shoppers buying more clothes than they really need, resulting in the phenomenon known as ‘fast fashion’.

The reality is, throwaway fashion is putting increasing pressure on our planet and people –it’s unsustainable, but there is something you can do to help.

Set yourself a personal challenge, and join us for Second Hand September as we say yes to pre-loved clothes by giving them a new lease of life!

We have 47 Oxfam shops selling high-quality pre-loved clothes, accessories, handbags, shoes and more across the island of Ireland, and our teams of nearly 1,000 staff and volunteers are ready to help you start (or continue) your journey to more sustainable fashion choices.

Ever wondered how shopping second hand in charity shops benefits the environment?

According to our own national Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, it’s estimated that 63,000 tonnes of textiles end up in waste streams each year –to be either sent to landfills or incinerated.But through our network of shops, along with other members of the Irish Charity Shop Association, we collectively divert around 23,000 tonnes of clothing from landfill every year.

Even during the pandemic, with rolling lockdowns which meant shops were only trading for 33 weeks of the year, charity shops in Ireland managed to divert 14,775 tonnes from landfill -that’s the equivalent of the weight of Dublin Bus’s fleet of more than 1,000 vehicles! It also prevented106,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases from being released into the atmosphere.

In addition,€42 million was raised to support the world’s most vulnerable people with the help of thousands of incredible staff and volunteers.

So you see, second-hand items are precious. Every pre-loved garment or item donated to, or bought at Oxfam helps our environment, while raising vital funds to fight inequality and support our global mission to beat poverty.

Join us now and embark on your 30-day journey to sustainability.