What to do with the clothes you’re not keeping

Donate with caution

When it comes to clothing donations the ‘out of sight out of mind’ approach applies. Sadly, lots of what we donate to charity shops doesn’t actually get sold and sometimes ends up in landfill. If you’re getting rid of clothes this year, consider ways you can keep fashion circular without dumping a huge bag at a charity shop.

Host a clothes swap

Invite friends over, maybe even make dinner and serve drinks and encourage everyone to bring old clothes they don’t wear anymore and get swapping. Just because you don’t love something, doesn’t mean one of your besties won’t!

If hosting an in-person clothes swap doesn’t appeal to you, try uploading items to your close friends story to see if anyone wants anything. It’s quick way to ensure your clothes find a good home.

Reuse old fabric

Watching The Great British Sewing Bee has opened our eyes to what can be done with clothing scraps. There are lots of DIY projects you could get involved with, using unwanted clothes as material to make something new.

Sustainable fashion journalist, Sophie Benson, has written a whole book of upcycling challenges to breathe new life into old clothes.

TLC

Get that repair

This might be the hardest challenge of all– getting an item repaired. It’s so easy to put off getting something repaired but is the best way to get more from the clothes already in your wardrobe. Normalise spending the money you would on buying new clothes to keep your current ones in good condition.

Show your clothes some love

If you don’t have anything that needs repairing or altering, consider other ways you can care for your clothes. For example, take something to the dry cleaners to freshen it up or moisturise your leather jackets/shoes to keep them looking brand new. If you’re on a budget, it could be as simple as buying some Crep Protect spray for your shoes and giving them all an even coating before autumn and winter come into effect. It keeps your shoes clean for longer, waterproof, and safe from stains.

No buy month

Honour your current wardrobe and pledge not to buy anything (second-hand or new) for the whole month. It might sound daunting, but it’s a good place to start appreciating your current wardrobe without buying new pieces for a serotonin hit or confidence boost.

Those are all the challenges we’re sharing for second-hand September. Don’t forget to follow us on socials to keep up with our journey throughout the month and see how we’re getting along. Good luck!

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Two besties, one wardrobe