Second Hand September

Second Hand September is an initiative from Oxfam which encourages people to shop from second hand businesses/ charity shops to purchase clothes this month and stop the consumption from fast fashion. Initially, every week 11 million items of clothing end up in land fill, therefore this is a chance for participants to help contribute to Oxfam’s charitable causes, combat climate change, and still get to buy things.

The idea behind Second Hand September feels more like a shopping cleanse rather than contributing to fast fashion consumption. Fast fashion quickly ends up in landfills, contributing to the ongoing destruction of the planet and people. When you consume from what is already available can the best choice rather than the demand for cheap brands like Zara, Boohoo, and Missguided, which are usually inexpensive, but often low-quality clothing. We need to remove ourselves from buying fast fashion. I know what you might be thinking easier said than done. I struggle with this too, however, second hand September really gave me a chance to eliminate and discover pieces of meaning and value. Quality over quantity!

I would often go thrifting but it was my first time participating in Second Hand September. I did not even know it existed but I really enjoyed the tips and tricks I got from other bloggers and expertise. I found a new thrift store that I enjoyed shopping from and hope to visit others in the near future.

Thrift stores to visit in Toronto:

1. Double Take

2. Just Thrift

3. National Thrift Store

4. Value Village

5. Plato's Closet Scarborough

I created a checklist that will help your second hand shopping a lot easier. For those of you that are new to shopping second hand or still learning as you go as myself. Remember to ask yourself these 5 questions when you find any item that sparks your attention.

What second hand item do you love so much? Did you know of Second Hand September?

Share with me what you bought or donated in the last month?