Katie, Volunteer at Oxfam Shop Putney. Amber Ahmad / Oxfam
Second Hand September 2026
This Second Hand September, shop and donate for more joy, less waste and more funds to help create a fairer future.
Women at Oxfam Tooting participating in 'Sewing & Sanctuary', a women’s group focused on upcycling, creating and community engagement. Photo: Sophie Robinson/Oxfam
What is Second Hand September?
In a world of overproduction and overconsumption, small habits can create real change. Second Hand September is about building a fairer future, without compromising on style or joy.
Making clothes uses vast amounts of the planet's precious resources. Did you know that buying just one pair of jeans and a T-shirt second-hand instead of new could save the equivalent of 20,000 standard bottles of water? Choosing pre-loved clothing is a simple way to reduce the environmental impact of your wardrobe.
So, the good news is: what you wear has power. Every time you choose second hand with Oxfam, whether that's finding a vintage tee or donating what you no longer wear, you're dressing for the world you want and directly funding meaningful change.
Oxfam: Where second hand started
Long before second hand was an app, a trend or a billion-pound industry, it was an Oxfam shop on Broad Street in Oxford.
Opened in 1947, it became the first permanent charity shop on any British high street. It started with a simple idea: that the things one person no longer needs can make an extraordinary difference to someone who does.
People brought in whatever they could spare, helping to raise funds for those facing hunger and hardship.
More than 75 years later, that shop is still trading, and the belief behind it hasn't changed. Today, there are hundreds of Oxfam shops across the UK, run by thousands of volunteers, and we're the largest second hand bookseller in Europe.
Everyone else came to second hand eventually. We were already here. That's what makes Oxfam the Second Hand Originals.
How do I get involved with Second Hand September?
Shop second hand with Oxfam
Second Hand September is the perfect excuse to look for something no one else will be wearing. Explore your local Oxfam shop or browse one-of-a-kind finds on the Oxfam Online Shop.
Donate clothes to Oxfam
Ready for a wardrobe clear-out? When you donate rather than sell, every item goes further.
Donating your clothes raises funds to help fight poverty, while giving your items a second life as someone else's brilliant discovery. One bag can do an extraordinary amount of good.
Mannequin with jacket including words 'Actions speak louder than words", on display during visit of upcycling students from Leeds Beckett university at Batley on 12th June 2025. Photo: Natalie Argent/Oxfam GB
Why does Second Hand September matter?
Fashion is fabulous, but it's also one of the most polluting industries on the planet.
As well as using so much of the planet's clean water to produce clothing, the fashion industry creates significant pollution through production and transportation.
It all contributes to the climate crisis, while the communities least responsible for it are pushed further into poverty. That's why choosing second hand matters more than ever.
By recirculating clothes, buying, wearing and donating second hand, you're giving fashion a longer life and cutting demand for new. And that helps reduce the damage to our planet.
Plus, when you shop with Oxfam, you're supporting the vital work our partners and their local communities are doing around the world to fight climate change.
The hidden costs of our wardrobes
Who can take part in Second Hand September?
Oxfam has teamed up with some amazing businesses, so you can drop off your pre-loved clothes to be reused, recycled and loved again.
Oxfam shops and the Oxfam Online Shop aspire to be a driving force in sustainability. Learn more about our Retail Ethical and Environmental Strategy.