Secondhand September: A Sustainable Fashion Journey in Buckhead

Remember when silly holidays only included Opposite Day and April Fool’s Day? Now, every week it seems there’s a new observance or day designed to push products or agendas, there’s Buffet Day, Fruitcake Toss Day, and Bean Day—and that’s just in the first week of the year. Most of these observances are just silly or an excuse to buy something we don’t need. This year, however, I stumbled upon Secondhand September, a campaign that highlights pre-loved clothing, encouraging pledges to shop secondhand for the month. It really piqued my interest as I’ve been on my own journey renting clothes for the past few years, but as I delved into the rabbit hole of environmental harms of the fashion industry, it became clear that this observance is well worth our attention and participation.

We all know there’s a massive push towards a buy-buy-buy culture, driven by influencers and marketing executives (Americans are purchasing four times more clothes now than in 2000), but there’s also a burgeoning culture for sustainable and second-hand fashion and it’s now easier than ever to take part! In fact, Atlanta is gearing up to host its own Sustainable Fashion Week from September 24-28. Before diving into the positive strides, let me share some alarming climate fashion faux pas I found in my rabbit hole:

Fast fashion, a staple of modern shopping habits, is now responsible for approximately 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which is more than both the aviation and shipping sectors combined, and nearly 20% of global wastewater.

The cycle of overproduction is alarming, with 30-40% of garments never leaving the shelves, only to end up incinerated or piled in landfills producing methane gas. We’re also overconsuming, estimates indicate about 65% of clothing gets thrown away or never worn again within 12 months. We’re making impulsive, single-use clothing decisions and our landfills are paying the price.

But it doesn’t stop there. We’ve all heard about the impending doom of microplastics, but did you know about 35% of the microplastics found in the ocean are coming from our clothes?! The majority of our clothes (60%) are now mostly made from synthetic fibers–so each wash is carrying away thousands of microplastics and depositing them into our waterways.

Amidst these startling revelations, Secondhand September offers a promising silver lining. It challenges us to rethink our approach to fashion, encouraging us to embrace alternatives that allow us to indulge in our love for style without compromising the planet’s health.

Here’s How We Can Make a Difference:

• Shop Local Thrift Stores: Discover the charm of secondhand finds at Buckhead’s Labels (women’s and men’s), Sweet Repeats (kids), RCR Designer Boutique, The Cathedral Thrift House, or search for hidden gems at Goodwill.
• Explore Rental Fashion: Online platforms like Nuuly (my favorite), Rent the Runway, and Fashion Pass allow you to rent several items a month to keep your wardrobe fresh yet sustainable. Others like Pickle, offer one-off rentals for every event, eliminating the need for panic buying. Want designer bags and accessories without the high price tag? Rent them from Cocoon, Vivrelle, or Switch. With the rise of TV production in the area, there are also Buckhead showrooms offering designer and vintage rentals for all types of occasions, check out Atlanta Vintage Clothing Rental, Le Archive, and many more!
• Venture into Online Resale: The Real Real, Poshmark, and similar sites offer access to high-quality, pre-loved designer goods at your fingertips.

Proper garment care also plays a crucial role in sustainability. The most common cause for a garment’s decline isn’t wear and tear but rather care and tear. Steaming clothes between washes, using the correct wash settings, and choosing the right detergents can dramatically extend the life of your wardrobe and reduce the need to buy more.

Join me this Secondhand September in embracing a fashionably sustainable lifestyle. It’s about more than just saving money; it’s about saving our planet, one outfit at a time. We currently have enough clothing on the planet to dress the next six generations, let’s shop secondhand and make responsible fashion the new norm in Buckhead and beyond!