Strathcarron encourages people to buy second hand this September

The Secondhand September initiative aims to guide people to make conscious environmental change with their shopping habits.

By purchasing second hand clothing, customers can create a greener wardrobe for themselves and cut down on their environmental impact. Making clothes uses huge amounts of natural resources, and more than four in ten Brits have worn an item of clothing they own only once.

While helping the environment, purchasing clothes at charity shops also aids those in need.

All money collected from purchases at a Strathcarron store goes directly to the Strathcarron Hospice charity, where a £15 dress could cover the cost of half an hour of specialist nursing care.

If you are wishing to donate clothing or other items to a Strathcarron store, they kindly ask that you call ahead so they can check if they have space to accept it. The charity further states that UK tax payers can Gift Aid their donations, allowing Strathcarron to collect an additional 25 percent on the sale price of an item. All you need to do is let the store know you are a tax payer and fill out a Gift Aid Declaration form.

Secondhand September is still in its early stages, but it is aiming to become a global campaign. Launched by the National Association for Charitable Textile Recycling in response to a need for more sustainable consumer habits, the initiative looks to help people make conscious changes to their environmental habits.