Mend and make new

Did you know fashion is the world’s second-largest polluter after the oil industry? 

The clothes that we buy have a hidden cost. Fabric production creates an estimated 1.2 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year – that’s more than international flights and maritime shipping combined. 

Polyester, which is the most common fibre in modern clothing, is a plastic made from oil, and takes over 200 years to break down. Polyester microfibres are released in every wash and account for 85% of all human-made debris found on shorelines around the world.  

Even natural fibres such as cotton have a heavy footprint, using tens of thousands of litres of water to grow just a kilo at a time. It is estimated each time 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. And yet, every second, a lorry-load of clothes is discarded to be burnt or sent to landfill. 

The good news? We can all make a difference. Now is the perfect time to start!  

Oxfam’s Second-Hand September is a global movement encouraging people to buy only second-hand clothes for the month. It’s a fun, sustainable challenge and a great way to refresh your wardrobe without costing the earth. 

Here are some simple ways to get involved: 

• Shop second-hand
• Look for natural fibres: Wool, cotton, and linen last longer, keep you cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter - and of course don’t shed microplastics
• Host a clothing swap 
• Mend and make new: Try darning a hole, patching a tear, or de-pilling an old jumper 
• Care for your clothes: Wash less and at lower temperatures, use gentle detergents, and spin on low. This will help to elongate the life of your garments as well as reducing the water and energy you’re using in your home
• Donate your unwanted items

Top tip: pop jeans and jumpers in the freezer to freshen them up instead of washing! 

As Patrick Grant from The Great British Sewing Bee says: 

We have enough clothing on the planet right now to clothe the next 6 generations of the human race: we have to find ways of using what we’ve got.

This September, let’s celebrate second-hand style and enjoy dressing in a way that’s good for both you and the planet.  

More information on Oxfam’s campaign can be found here: https://www.oxfam.org.uk/get-involved/second-hand-september/