Repair old clothes with Needle & Thread or invest in vintage fashion at Sobey's.
Oxfam's Second Hand September is in full swing. The celebratory month encourages participants to pledge to shop only second hand for 30 days or more.
Why? Well, throwaway fashion (or fast fashion) is putting increasing pressure on our planet and its people – it's unsustainable.
Every week 13 million items of clothing end up in UK landfill.
And did you know? It'd take 13 years for one person to drink the water needed to make one cotton t-shirt and a pair of jeans, according to the charity.
That's where choosing to shop second hand can help.
By shopping second hand in September (and hopefully longer!), you'll help give clothes a longer life, keeping them from landfill.
One spot in Bristol to visit during Second Hand September is The Arcade, a historic shopping quarter in Broadmead.
It's a Grade II listed building, and a hub for local, independent businesses. It's home to several retailers with a staunch commitment to sustainability.
If you want to shop second hand this September, then Sobey's is the place to be.
Inside, you'll find one-of-a-kind reworked pieces to vintage designer clothing, as well as jewellery and quirky accessories.
Speaking to 365Bristol last year, store manager Hannah highlighted the importance of shopping vintage when it comes to the environment.
"In today's climate," she explained, "in terms of sustainability and being environmentally-friendly, it's really important to buy vintage." Read the feature.
.jpg "Sobey’s Vintage Clothing inside The Arcade, Bristol")
Shopping second hand is not the only way to save clothes from landfill. With the help of a needle and a thread, it's easy to find joy in old and forgotten clothing.
And that's where The Arcade's tailoring service Needle & Thread comes in.
As well as tailoring and alternations, Needle & Thread offers a dry-cleaning service.
So, whether you need to sew something back together, or need an item cleaned to look good as new, Needle & Thread has got you covered.
Alongside second-hand shopping and repairing old clothing, there's another way to keep your environmental impact down when it comes to fashion.
The trick is to buy sustainably: invest in high-quality products that'll last you a while, and find brands which value ethical production methods.
Here are two more Arcade businesses where you can do just that.
Armed with loyalty to sustainability, Illustrate is a collective of artists and creatives working to produce sustainable art and products, such as clothing and accessories.
The collective operates with a distinctive style, creating artwork which aims to reflect the beauty of wildlife and nature through intricate illustrations.
Abiding by a set of environmental commitments, the team creates its products using recycled materials and sustainable, low-carbon production methods.
While Illustrate clothing is organic, 10% of profits from Illustrate's Insulated Water Bottles go straight to safe water charity FRANK Water.
Finally, if you're on the hunt for an investment piece, stop off at Silver Scene, The Arcade's bespoke silver retailer.
An independent retailer, the Silver Scene team have more than 20 years' experience creating, finding and pairing customers with exceptional sterling silver.
The jewellery business started through a love of travelling – and this passion has influenced its trade ever since.
The team often spend time in markets and workshops across the world to find new collections using their worldwide network of jewellers, gem cutters, casters, chain makers and stone setters.
It means the store is home to several one-off pieces that'll last you a lifetime.
Find out more about The Arcade: thearcadebristol.com.
Find out more about Second Hand September: oxfamapps.org/secondhandseptember.
