Second Hand September: Celebrating Pre-Loved Fashion
September is here, and while we might not quite be ready to say goodbye to summer, there is one thing we’re very happy to welcome back: Second Hand September. A whole month dedicated to celebrating pre-loved clothes, rediscovering what is already in our wardrobes and thinking a little differently about the way we shop.
Vintage clothing has been at the heart of Betty Berry since the very beginning. We’ve always believed that some of the most special pieces are the ones that have already lived a life before finding their way to you. So, for Second Hand September 2026, we’re exploring what the campaign is all about, why second hand fashion matters and some easy ways to get involved.
What is Second Hand September?
Second Hand September is an annual campaign created by Oxfam in 2019, encouraging people to choose second hand for 30 days or longer.
The idea is simple, rather than automatically buying something brand new when we want to update our wardrobe, September gives us a reason to explore what already exists!
That might mean shopping in charity shops, hunting through vintage stores, buying pre-loved clothing online, swapping clothes with friends/family or even rediscovering forgotten gems at the back of your own wardrobe.
Why Does Shopping Second Hand Matter?
Oxfam's 2026 research found that four in ten people in Britain have worn an item of clothing just once, while around a third of UK wardrobes haven't been worn in the past year.
Producing new clothing requires raw materials, water and energy before we even get to packaging and transportation. When perfectly wearable clothes are quickly discarded and replaced with something new, those resources have essentially been used for a very short-lived piece of our wardrobes.
Choosing second hand clothing helps to keep existing garments in circulation for longer and reduces the need for everything we wear to be made from scratch.
That is one of the reasons vintage has always been such an important part of what we do at Betty Berry.
Ways to Take Part in Second Hand September
A few small changes to the way we think about clothes can make a difference.
1. Shop second hand first
If there is something missing from your wardrobe, try looking for it second hand before buying new.
Whether you're after a chunky vintage knit for autumn, or a floaty maxi skirt, chances are somebody made one years ago that's just waiting to be rediscovered.
And unlike racks of identical fast-fashion pieces, vintage is one of a kind.
2. Shop your own wardrobe
The most sustainable clothes are often the ones you already own.
Before adding something new, have a proper rummage through your wardrobe. Pull out the things you've forgotten about, try different combinations and give pieces that haven't had much love recently another chance.
3. Swap, sell or donate what you don't wear
If you've fallen out of love with something, somebody else might be about to fall in love with it. Selling or donating unwanted clothes keeps them in circulation rather than letting them sit untouched for years. The aim doesn't have to be owning as little as possible, but helping the clothes that already exist get worn.
4. Repair before you replace
A missing button, tiny hole or loose seam doesn't have to mean the end of a garment.
Learning a few simple clothing repairs can give favourite pieces years more life - we believe a hand-sewn repair adds character anyway!
It's something we're passionate about with our own vintage too. Pieces we find with small imperfections don't automatically go to waste; wherever possible, we repair them or give them another opportunity through our Wear & Care range at a discounted price.
Our Second Hand September 50% Off Vintage Sale
To celebrate Second Hand September, we currently have 50% OFF ALL VINTAGE at Betty Berry. We hope this gives you a good opportunity to get involved in choosing second hand!
As always with vintage, there is only one of each piece - once it's found its new home, it's gone.
So if something has been sitting in your basket, this is the time!
Second Hand September... and Beyond
Of course, the best thing that could come from Second Hand September is for a few of those habits to make it into October, November and beyond.
You don't have to swear off new clothes forever or create the world's most perfectly sustainable wardrobe.
Shop what you already own. Repair something when you can. Choose vintage when you find something you love. Buy pieces that deserve to be worn again and again!
Shop the Betty Berry Vintage Collection and get 50% off all vintage now.