Second Hand September

What is Second Hand September?

Shop second hand and donate, reuse, re-wear and restyle during Second Hand September – and beyond!

When you shop and donate second hand, you reduce waste, take a stance against climate change, and help create a fairer world – and you do it all while looking fabulous. Shopping secondhand means you can be much more creative and individual in your style, rather than just following the herd and wearing what the catwalk tells you to.

Since 2019, Second Hand September has inspired thousands of people to shop in a way that is kinder to people and planet. This is our fifth year, and the movement is going from strength to strength as more and more people become aware of the environmental and humanitarian cost of fast fashion. Add to that the effect of the cost of living crisis – we all need to watch our pennies more closely, and secondhand shopping can help take some of the pressure off an increasingly tight budget.

This year, signing up via the Oxfam GB website will get you a free limited edition poster and postcard set, so you can spread the word about sustainable shopping, and help fight the climate crisis in style. You can join in too – post your finds on your own Instagram with the hashtag #secondhandseptember, and why not tag @officialoxfamdarlington and @oxfamgb while you’re at it – we love to see what people find and how they styled it!

Why Second Hand September?

Climate change is impossible to ignore – and it’s pushing people deeper into poverty. So, it’s more important than ever to act now, to prevent this global crisis from becoming a global catastrophe.

When a new pair of jeans is made, an estimated 16.2kg of CO2 is emitted – the equivalent of driving over 58 miles in a car. So, by recirculating our clothes – buying, wearing and donating second hand – we can help to reduce the demand for new clothes. And this could in turn help to reduce the damage to our planet.

By shopping with Oxfam, you’re investing in vital work to beat poverty – standing with communities worldwide as they fight the climate crisis and speak out against the global inequalities that push people deeper into poverty.

Here in the Darlington store, we have clothing for men, women and children, as well as accessories to finish your look. You can even get everything you need for your wedding here! We have a lot of brand new clothing from corporate donations too. And if clothing isn’t your thing, we also sell homewares, electricals, books, music, linens and Fair Trade items. Personally, I do most of my own clothing shopping here and in other charity shops, just buying brand new when I absolutely have to, and I am always picking up unusual, one off gifts for birthdays and the like. 

If you are new to charity shopping, now is as good a time as any to come for a visit. Kinder to your wallet and the environment, this could be the start of a new habit for you.

We are also always looking for new volunteers to join our team, either for our standard shop or our Online and eBay shop. We have lots of volunteer opportunities available – just select ‘Get Involved’ on the Oxfam GB website. We’d love to have you join our team!