Will You Join In Second Hand September?

Ahead of the UN climate summit COP26 in Glasgow this November, Oxfam is launching its #SecondHandSeptember campaign to raise awareness about the harmful effects fast fashion. And while we need no encouragement to get stuck into our local second-hand and charity shops, Sienna Miller’s shoot for the campaign has us dreaming of our next vintage fashion find.

Oxfam’s #SecondHandSeptember

With 13million items of clothing sent to landfill every week, the time for change in the fashion industry is now. In fact, the textile industry accounts for up to 10% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, more than aviation and shipping combined.

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If you have a fast fashion habit, how about breaking the cycle of shopping and dropping by signing up for Oxfam’s #SecondHandSeptember, and buying only second-hand clothes for an entire month, while also donating, rather than binning, old clothes.

Creative Director and Stylist: Bay Garnett; Photographer: Tom Craig; Hair: Earl Simms; Make-up: Wendy Rowe.

Sienna Miller said of the campaign: “I am delighted to be the face of Oxfam’s Second Hand September to help draw attention to how choosing second-hand fashion can be kinder for our planet. These small changes can make a huge difference. And rooting around in a charity shop is like hunting for treasure. Be a magpie! #secondhandseptember”

Aside from heading to your local charity shop, you can also visit the Oxfam / Selfridges pop-up shop, styled by Oxfam’s independent fashion advisor Bay Garnett, which celebrates all the vintage treasures that can be unearthed in Oxfam shops, such as heritage tweed or sheepskin coats. Expect punk inspired clothes and velvet dresses, plus some of the garments Sienna is modelling in the campaign.

Bay Garnett said: “I have always loved charity shopping – the creativity involved in putting random clothes together to make an outfit, and the independence of choosing second-hand. But aside from the fun, we all need to think about shopping second-hand with the climate emergency in mind – so that we’re using less of the planet’s virgin resources and sending less to landfill. No matter how small our acts and choices seem, we can all make a difference. I love how the Selfridges pop-up shop brings Oxfam prices to Oxford Street, making it a choice that’s accessible to everyone’s pockets.”

Shoppers can raise awareness by sharing their one-of-a-kind finds using #SecondHandSeptember and tagging @OxfamGB. Miller will feature on posters in the windows of more than 500 Oxfam shops nationwide. People can also support Second Hand September by shopping on the Oxfam Online Shop or by finding their local store using the online shop finder tool.

Creative Director and Stylist: Bay Garnett; Photographer: Tom Craig; Hair: Earl Simms; Make-up: Wendy Rowe.

Danny Sriskandarajah, Chief Executive of Oxfam GB, said: “Scientists warn we have just nine years to prevent catastrophic global temperature rises so all of us – governments, companies and individuals – have a role to play in rapidly reducing carbon emissions. Choosing second-hand is one way we can leave a lighter footprint on the planet while sending a message to retailers that we want them to slow down fashion. By shopping at Oxfam, you’re also raising money to help some of the world’s poorest people cope with the impacts of climate change.”

Get Involved

The Oxfam x Bay Garnett pop-up shop runs from 6 September until the end of December and the money raised will go to Oxfam’s work beating poverty around the world. Approximately £29m is raised each year from selling clothing in Oxfam shops. The profit raised from this is enough to provide clean water for more than two million people during a drought.

Shoot Credits: Creative Director and Stylist: Bay Garnett; Photographer: Tom Craig; Hair: Earl Simms; Make-up: Wendy Rowe.