Oxfordshire woman says she's saved thousands second hand shopping
It comes as Oxford based charity Oxfam share their sixth annual campaign Second Hand September.
This month sees the sixth year of Oxford based charity Oxfam's Second Hand September campaign, urging us not to buy new clothing for one month.
They say buying just one pair of jeans and a t-shirt second-hand instead of new could help save the equivalent of 20,000 standard bottles of water, new Oxfam analysis reveals today.
The garment industry has an enormous water footprint that is straining the planet’s limited water resources. The total water footprint of clothing used in the UK annually is eight billion cubic metres, enough to meet the water consumption of the entire UK population for two years. Globally, 93 billion cubic metres of water are used by the fashion industry annually - enough to fill 37 million Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Oxfam’s analysis reveals that producing just one cotton t-shirt requires the equivalent of 5,400 standard 500ml bottles of water to make - enough to meet the drinking needs of 1,600 people in one day, according to NHS standards. Producing a pair of jeans requires 16,000 bottles of water, enough to meet the drinking needs of 4,750 people for a day.
"In the past six years I've saved thousands"
Zara Cranfield from Thame is a volunteer marketing manager at Oxfam and second hand shopping expert. She's not purchased new clothes in six years since taking part in the first Oxfam Second Hand September and says it's saved her lots of cash:
"I think in the past six years I've saved thousands. It's easy as a teenager to get caught up in buying everything new and using fast fashion. But I think attitudes have changed in the past decade. People are more open to shopping second hand."
Zara says it's not just clothing but all items she looks for second hand, and has picked up designer items and items she collects at a fraction of the price.
"Second hand doesn't mean second best, you can find stylist clothes, save money, and it's more sustainable too so all round it's a win, win."
Lorna Fallon, Oxfam’s Retail Director, said: “It is clear from these statistics that we are drowning in fashion. Given the world is running short of fresh water due to climate change, the water-intensive cost of clothes production could be vitally reduced if we mixed up our wardrobes with second-hand purchases.
“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. What’s more, you can find amazing, stylish and budget-friendly outfits when you shop pre-loved, while also helping to raise vital funds to help tackle poverty and inequality around the world.”
Since it launched in 2019, Oxfam’s Second Hand September has helped thousands of people to shop more sustainably by encouraging people to shop pre-loved and help reduce the impact of the fashion industry on the planet.
TV presenter and actress Cat Deeley is fronting Oxfam’s Second Hand September campaign this year.
Cat Deeley said: “I absolutely adore shopping second-hand, so it is such a pleasure for me to be a part of Oxfam's Second Hand September. Wherever I go in the world, I will always find charity shops and treasure-hunt to find the most gorgeous, preloved pieces. I love that with shopping second-hand, you can find something completely unique, which no one else has, that you can customise and also feel really good about wearing, knowing the money has gone to a good cause and you’re giving those clothes a second chance of life. Second-hand absolutely does not mean second best!”
Online marketplace Vinted has teamed up with Oxfam, supporting their campaign, including the Style for Change runway show at London Fashion Week.