Looking Backwards to Be Fashion Forward: Why Green is The New Black in Fashion

It’s no secret that the fashion industry is a major contributor to global carbon emissions. But here at Curio’s we know that it doesn’t have to be. With Oxfam’s Second-hand September already started and Sustainable Fashion Week (SFW) set to begin on the 20th of this month, we wanted to take this opportunity to share our thoughts about the benefits of second-hand shopping as an antidote to the industry’s stark contribution to climate change.

With fast fashion sites such as Temu and Shein encouraging irresponsible consumerism and generating unfathomable amounts of waste each year through the selling of poor quality products, the fashion industry is one of the biggest culprits in the climate emergency and something we all need to be more aware of. From the immense carbon emissions produced by the manufacturing and shipping of cheap garments to the staggering amount of items that we send to landfill each year, the environmental impact of our online shopping habits is truly staggering.

But enjoying clothes and making the most of affordable ways to buy them doesn’t have to be laden with guilt; buying second-hand has many benefits for the environment as well as for our wallets and is something that more and more of us are choosing to do. Due to the high quality fabrics and craftmanship used to create them, vintage clothes are often more robust than contemporary designs and tend to last far beyond the years and decades from which they first emerged.

Available to buy from charity shops, flea markets, kilo sales and dedicated online shops like Curio’s, vintage and pre-loved clothing and accessories are becoming increasingly accessible, leading to less need for cheap factory labour, less need for new clothes, and less waste as well-made garments are more likely to be kept, donated or resold.

Donating unwanted items and buying second-hand also provides shoppers with opportunities to create distinctive looks with designs that aren't readily available on the high street, promoting individuality and helping us stand out from the crowd. So this #SecondHandSeptember we’re remembering that ethical shopping isn’t just a personal choice; it’s part of a collective solution to a global problem that we're all responsible for.

For more information and ways to get involved in Second-hand September and Sustainable Fashion Week visit the campaign websites at www.oxfam.org.uk/get-involved/second-hand-september/ and www.sustainablefashionweek.uk.

Images by @onorblog and thirdman94