After the summer that never was, I can’t be the only one who has considered turning on the heating and thinking about the appeal of socks and ankle boots over open-toed sandals!

Thoughts are turning to our autumn and winter wardrobes, and September is traditionally the month when the fashion world launches the new season’s styles and urges us to embrace and invest in new trends.

However, this September the global poverty charity Oxfam is hoping we will adjust our mindset to become more conscious consumers. In 2019, Oxfam launched an initiative which, although it takes place at a time when many of us are tempted into the high street to buy the latest cosy sweater or comfy coat, encourages us to switch to second hand shopping and start to dress more sustainably.

The charity is suggesting we all try to shop second hand for 30 days, in the hope that this is a habit we take forward into the future. The fashion industry is one of the highest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, so a simple step like this could really help to reduce that statistic.

Buying second hand or vintage means that there should subsequently be less demand for quickly and cheaply produced new clothing. By also donating something you own but no longer wear, you would be contributing to a circular economy by keeping those garments in the marketplace for longer.

As a bonus, shopping sustainably limits the carbon footprint created by the mass production of new clothing which gets transported around the world to satisfy excessive consumer demand. To also shop ethically as well as sustainably, we need to think more carefully about any new clothing we buy too.

Fast or throwaway fashion is highly likely to have been made by workers who are not paid a living wage and are compelled to work in unsatisfactory and often dangerous conditions. Also, it is not enough to simply think that you can buy cheap, throwaway clothing regularly as long as you then donate it to charity after wearing it once or twice. A large percentage of the fast fashion that is donated to charity is simply of insufficient quality to even be re-sold.It is consequently shipped in bulk to places like the African continent where it is sorted again, and a significant amount ends up going into landfill or polluting waterways.

Out of sight, out of mind, is not a globally conscious way of thinking about how to fulfil your shopping needs! We cannot simply pass on the waste from our fast fashion habit to poorer countries around the world and leave them to deal with the subsequent environmental damage.

The best charity shop finds are those that are of high quality, and are well-made from long-lasting, preferably natural, fabrics. Additionally, many charity shops will even have a vintage section for those of us who like a quirkier look that does not, perhaps, necessarily reflect current trends.

Oxfam has over 550 branches around the country and there are many other very worthy charities to support too. So set yourself the challenge and shop differently this September. You could find your own unique piece of autumn/winter style that will prompt you to think about a whole new approach to dressing, and make you feel you are doing your bit for the cause of sustainable fashion.