How to find quality clothes this Second Hand September

Second Hand September is in its fifth year, encouraging shoppers to buy more mindfully for the planet. The campaign was started by Oxfam in a bid to reduce our collective carbon footprint and rediscover the magic of second hand clothes.

Shopping for second hand clothes is not only good for the planet, but it’s good for your wallet, too. Whether you’re shopping online, in charity shops, or hitting vintage kilo sales, we’ve got the downlow on how to shop second hand successfully.

Why shop second hand for the planet?

The convenience of fast fashion means that more people can keep up with the latest trends as it becomes more affordable. But these items are produced quickly due to their cheap materials and poor labour conditions. 

Cheap materials have a higher environmental impact: they use oil-derived materials, a lot of resources, don’t last long, and take longer to break down in landfill. Ultimately, this will end up costing you more as you’ll need to buy new clothes more often. 

The fashion industry is responsible for around 10% of the world’s carbon emissions. Did you know that the creation of just one cotton T-shirt uses 2,700 litres of water? Buying second hand clothes means you’re using something that already exists and reducing the demand on a linear economy.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you can never buy new ever again; Oxfam's movement aims to encourage a new mindset and buying habits so you can continue to reduce, reuse, and recycle all year. It’s also a great opportunity to assess your wardrobe and donate your pre-loved clothing for someone else to enjoy.

Why shop second hand for your wallet?

Sustainable shopping may seem expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, most sustainable practices are also money-saving practices, and pre-loved clothing is no different. Depending on the item, you can save around 25%–50% on clothing in near-new condition, and find even bigger discounts on second hand designer clothes.

What to look for & avoid when buying second hand

If you’re used to buying new, it might take some trial and error when it comes to buying cheap second hand clothes online and in person. The below tips will point you in the right direction so you’re saving your money and not wasting it.

Pick quality materials

Stick to natural and/or durable materials like cotton, linen, denim, corduroy, silk, and wool if you can. There’s already a risk involved when you can’t return an item (or see it if you’re buying online), so opting for quality material will allay some risk.

Avoid cheap brands

In a similar vein, you should try to stick to reliable brands for better quality clothing. When searching online, you can filter by brands that you like or filter out brands that you don’t. You might find charity shops are largely stocked with items from cheap brands, so you’ll have to be diligent with label-checking.

Know what you like 

Have an idea of what you want, what you like, and what suits your style. Buying second hand clothing isn’t ideal for branching out into something new because you usually can’t return items (or try them on if you’re buying online). 

Check the quality

Found something you like in a charity shop or vintage store? Check it all over in good lighting for tears, rips, stains, uneven hems, or any other flaws. If you’re shopping online, take a good look at the photos and request more from the seller if you need to.

If it’s designer, is it authentic?

Buying second hand designer clothes can be a way to get a huge discount, but you should take extra care to ensure authenticity. eBay has a pretty strict system for flagging counterfeit designer items, but you should still be diligent. Sticking to designer-specific second hand websites is usually the way to go (more on these later).

Things to look out for include:

Where to shop online

It can be daunting to know where to start to find pre-loved clothing online. Here are a few of the best second hand clothes websites for UK shoppers.

Of course the originator of Second Hand September is a great place to start. Oxfam Online is just like the charity shop, but likely has much more to offer than your local store. Not only can you find incredible deals on all sorts of clothing and accessories, but you know your money is going to a good place.

Vinted has boomed in popularity over the last few years as the go-to place to buy and sell second hand. It has a nice-looking and intuitive website and an app that means you can scroll with ease when you have some downtime. Seller prices are usually pretty reasonable on and there’s insurance included.

Online auction site eBay has been a thrifting staple for many years. Take some time to play around with the filters and once you’ve nailed it, save the search so you can come back to it later or set up alerts. The bidding element can be quite fun, if a little addictive, but you can set a price limit so you don’t go over budget. 

Don’t fancy bidding? Filter by ‘buy it now’ items but make sure listings include photos taken by the seller that indicate they’re genuinely pre-loved (not dropshipped or mass-produced). Other filters we recommend are setting your location to UK only then specifying category, size, brand, and price range.

Depop is definitely more of a Gen Z marketplace for online thrifting where you can follow friends and influencers to buy the latest trends second hand. It’s sort of like the social media world of second hand shopping where you can follow, influence, be influenced, and like other people’s activity. It’s easy to scroll endlessly on the app, so you should know exactly what you’re looking for and set filters accordingly.

If you want to take the guesswork and gamble out of second hand shopping, Thrift+ is the place for you. Instead of buying directly from sellers, you’re buying from Thrift+ who offer a 30-day refund policy and guarantee of quality pre-loved clothing. 

Each piece of second hand clothing is carefully inspected by a team of in-house experts before being photographed and listed on site. The brands are slightly more upmarket than other second hand websites, so you won’t find most high street brands on here.

Any flaws are minor and are clearly detailed and photographed in the listing. Thrift+ is definitely a great place for beginners to find huge discounts on expensive brands.

For fans of fashion from bygone eras, Beyond Retro celebrates styles from all decades. With handpicked items and stores located in London, Finland, and Sweden, the prices are a little higher than other second hand websites. You can still find amazing deals during their garage sales and seasonal sales where you can get up to 80% off selected items.

Rokit Vintage is known for its old school denim and reworked designs. Most vintage stores come with a higher price tag, and Rokit Vintage is no different. With vintage charity shops online, you'll find genuine retro pieces curated from brands like Levi’s, Carhartt, and Wrangler. 

Each piece is handpicked, hand-checked, and sometimes even handmade from old materials, so you’re getting quality stuff. They feature lots of designer brands like Armani, Calvin Klein, and Ralph Lauren, and have tons of truly great sustainability practices aside from selling pre-loved clothing.

While the prices are pretty high, we still found some ways that you can save on your vintage threads. Keyworkers, students, and apprentices get 20% off, and you can find huge discounts in Black Friday and other seasonal sales. Join Rokit Rewards to get 5 points for every £1 you spend which you can put towards money off your next purchase.

You may be familiar with ASOS as a popular fast fashion brand, but they’ve had a satellite marketplace for over a decade now. ASOS marketplace offers a platform for independent and vintage brands to sell their second hand goods.

There’s both new and pre-loved on here, which you can explore by using the filters. Each listing will also let you know if an item is second hand or not, as well as its condition and original era. 

On top of the huge variety of second hand clothes on their platform, you’ll be supported by the ASOS marketplace guarantee and their refund policy. So if you have any issues with your items or you simply want to return, you can.

Some of the biggest reductions in price come from second hand designer clothes, like on the Vestiaire Collective site. Designer brands include the likes of Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Chanel, and Fendi, and all items go through rigorous authentication before being listed.

While it might not be a site you’re regularly shopping on, it’s ideal for splashing out on that one designer outfit you can wear on special occasions. It’s not just second hand clothing either; treat yourself to a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses or buy a loved one a Dior clutch or Omega watch, all at a fraction of their original cost. Vestiaire Collective offer a 14-day returns policy so you still have the option to change your mind.

Where to shop in person

We think there’s something special in finding a real gem in person, and there are lots of different places to get those one-of-a-kind pieces.

Charity shops

Your local charity shops are probably the most accessible way to shop second hand in person. Popular chains include Oxfam, Age UK, Mind, British Red Cross, and British Heart Foundation, although there are lots of smaller chains and independent shops nationwide. 

The pre-loved clothing is usually donated from local residents, so you’ll need to a have a good look through and check each item thoroughly. Sometimes high street shops donate surplus stock so you might find racks with a few of the same item hung together. Most charity shops allow you to try on and return within 30 days, although it varies by store.

Vintage stores

Pre-loved clothing from vintage stores comes at a higher price than charity shops. Not only because they have to buy their stock, but they also curate it carefully to ensure saleable conditions.

Popular chain vintage stores include Rokit Vintage, Beyond Retro, and Traid, although most stores are independent. You’ll have more luck in bigger cities, in particular London, Sheffield, Manchester, Brighton, and Bristol. 

Vintage clothing can vary a lot in sizing and you’ll often find tags are faded or have been removed, so be sure to try on anything you want to buy. If you’re looking specifically for things like leather jackets or denim jeans, you can get yourself a really good deal on high quality vintage items.

Vintage kilo sales

Vintage kilo sale events are usually either free or very cheap to attend. You’ll pay a fixed price per 1kg of clothing that you want to buy, usually around £15–£20. Heavier items of clothing like coats are counted separately and capped at the price for 1kg.

The clothes are usually organised by type – dresses, tops, coats, jeans – but not size, so you’ll need to be prepared to have a good dig through. Having an idea of what you’re looking for first can help, and make sure you thoroughly check an item and try it on before you buy.

Kilo sales can be a lot of fun as you never know what they’re going to have, making every gem you find a little more special. While it’s not the easiest if you’re a beginner to thrifting, it’s certainly worth finding a free event this Second Hand September.

Pop-up events

As you become more of a savvy second-hander, you might start keeping your ear to the ground about other vintage events. Lots of independent vintage stores either exist entirely online or only have one store in the country. They’ll join or host pop-up events like markets and fairs to get further reach without having to open up a new location.

Eventbrite is a good place to start for finding events near you. Some of the larger markets and fairs will feature several different vintage brands all under one roof and with cheap or free entry, it’s definitely worth it. Glass Onion host regular pop-up events nationwide with a variety of deals at each one – you might even catch a stall at your next music festival.

Clothing swaps

Clothing swap events are great for both acquiring clothes and decluttering your wardrobe. Each of these events may work a little differently depending on the organiser, but usually you pay about £5 entry, then donate and take whatever you want. The money goes towards running costs and/or charity, so everything is essentially swapped for free.

While it works out as one of the cheapest ways to shop second hand, it’s probably the least organised. Clothes are sometimes on racks, although often laid out on large tables, so things can get messy pretty quickly. You’ll have to be assertive and willing to ransack a little, but once you get into it, you might find it to be a lot of fun.

Our top tips for Second Hand September

Now we’ve been through all the wheres, we’ve got some tips on the hows so you can make sure you’re getting the best deal and the best quality.

eBay typos and misspellings

It’s possible you’re missing out on hundreds of valuable eBay listings simply because of human error. If you’re searching for Birkenstocks, what you won’t see is results for Brikenstocks or Birenstocks. Luckily, there are several sites dedicated to helping you find listings with typos and misspellings. 

• Bidkit
• Fat Fingers
• Typohound
• Nobids.net
• Goofbid
• Bargainchecker

Not only do typos mean you’re not seeing the listing, but neither are other people, meaning you could snatch up the listing for a steal. We couldn’t find the equivalent for Vinted, but you can always manually play with different typos and misspellings. 

Favourite items on Vinted

Even if an item is out of your budget, tap the heart icon to favourite an item. The seller will get notified when you do this, and may offer you a discount for a quick sale. As a bonus, the more items you favourite, the more accurately the Vinted algorithm will work to show you things you like.

Use Google Lens

Looking for second hand designer clothes online and not sure if something is a good deal? Right click on the image and select ‘search images with Google’. Google Lens will show you results that match the image as close as possible, which hopefully includes the original brand and price. At the very least, you’ll see listings of the item on other pre-loved sites so you can compare the pricing.

Shop refurbished at high street brands

Many clothing and non-clothing brands feature a refurbished (or some variation of the word) section. Refurbished items usually include minor blemishes and flaws that means they can’t be sold in the shop, but are still completely fine. 

High street brands like Schuh and Office as well as Nike feature imperfect products on their site, but you’ll usually only find one of each pair, for obvious reasons. While it’s not technically buying second hand, you’re still saving items from landfill, and perhaps it’s the best stepping stone for your journey into pre-loved fashion.

Rent a designer outfit for a one-off

Renting an outfit takes the guilt out of buying something and only wearing it once. It’s still a great way to extend the life of clothing, plus you can rent designer clothes for a fraction of their sale price. This is ideal for special occasions like weddings or parties where you want something you couldn’t normally justify buying.

Explore charity shops in wealthy areas

This is probably one of our favourite tips. If you're visiting wealthy areas around the county, it’s definitely worth stopping by a charity shop to see what locals have donated. If you’re lucky, you might find designer clothing severely underpriced. 

Shop second hand on holiday

The UK has a lot to offer for shopping second hand, but keep a lookout in other countries, too. One downside is that you’re less able to return it depending on the timeframe, but a benefit is finding items people back home won’t have.

Some of the best cities in Europe for thrifting are Berlin, Vienna, Copenhagen, Paris, and Bilbao, where you’ll find a wealth of flea markets, charity shops, and vintage stores.

The US can be particularly lucrative with chain thrift stores Goodwill and Salvation Army, as well as independent boutiques and consignment shops. Some of the most famous thrift stores are Wasteland, Crossroads Trading, Buffalo Exchange, and Beacon’s Closet, although only in specific locations.

How to embrace second hand beyond September

Of course, the whole idea of Second Hand September isn’t just to dedicate one month to sustainable shopping, but to integrate it into your life. We hope you’ve found some inspiration in this article, and here’s a final few pointers for continuing on in your vintage voyage.

Make it a habit

One of the easiest ways to achieve a new goal or resolution is to build a habit out of it. Build new buying habits by looking second hand as the first option; not only will it become standard practice, but you’ll get better at learning all the tricks.

Care for your clothes

The most sustainable item is the one you already own, so make your clothes last with proper care. Take cues from Rokit Vintage by washing, drying and storing clothes properly, as well as mending when needed.

Re-explore your wardrobe

Channel your inner Marie Kondo and go through what you have to give  a new lease of life to forgotten items. Experiment with items that you’ve never put together before, organise your wardrobe seasonally or by colour, and let go of things you no longer need. You can either donate or resell clothing that doesn't bring you joy any more.

Host clothing swaps 

If you’ve dug through your wardrobe and found items you don’t want anymore, encourage your friends and family to do the same and set up a clothing swap at your house. This can be as informal as you like and a great way to organise a get-together every once in a while. You could set it up within your town or village as a way to connect with your community and neighbourhood, too.

Build a capsule wardrobe 

A capsule wardrobe is made up of staple items that can all be worn together, aiming to reduce the overall amount of clothes you own. Extreme followers stick to a strict 37 items of clothing (or less) that consists of just a few of each type: bottoms, tops, dresses, shoes, etc.

You can build yours however you want, but the essence of the idea is to only buy something you can wear with what you already own. Focus on buying less, buying quality, and aiming for long-lasting style over short-lived trends.

Share your finds 

Inspire others with items you’ve thrifted by sharing with the hashtag this Second Hand September.

Get thrifting

Whether you’re an old hand at buying cheap second hand clothes or a complete newbie, we hope you found some useful tips. Here’s a quick reminder of the main takeaways to embrace and support Oxfam's challenge: