Shop at Dorothy House for a More Sustainable September

September has become synonymous with sustainability.  From The Great Big Green Week to Second Hand September, there are any number of ways to get involved.  As we respond collectively to the threat of climate change we can help keep the global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius. Our Dorothy House Sustainable September campaign hopes to raise awareness of the benefits of shopping second hand in helping to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Why take part in Sustainable September

According to Carbon Literacy Trust, the fashion industry could account for 26% of carbon emissions by 2050. By being more mindful of the way we shop communities can drive change. When you know that a new pair of jeans ‘costs’ around 33kg of CO2 to produce, the equivalent of driving your car 70 miles (source – Levi Strauss) then you might think twice about buying new. For a few more shocking statistics, take a look at our below infographic:

By shunning fast fashion and shopping differently, we can still find our fashion fix whilst being more planet positive.

What is Sustainable September?

Throughout September, we want to encourage everyone in our community to exclusively buy and wear pre-loved second hand clothes purchased from both our high street charity shops and online shop. Whether it’s your first time thrift shopping or you’re a regular charity shop shopper, we want to encourage as many people in our community to join us.

You may already be familiar with our physical shops, but what many people don’t know is that we also run our virtual shop, where you can browse affordable, sustainable clothing without even leaving your sofa! DorothyHouse.shop is home to stylish pre-loved women’s fashion, including vintage pieces and everyday wardrobe essentials, and it’s the perfect site if you can’t resist a bit of online shopping.

How to get involved in Sustainable September

• Pledge only to shop second hand during the whole of September – pop into one of our 25 retail stores for your seasonal wardrobe overhaul. Consider donating clothing you haven’t worn in a while too. You can drop before you shop.
• Keep an eye on our Instagram feed for tips and style inspiration – we’ll be staging a full takeover for the entire month, sharing top tips, style inspiration, and most importantly, showcasing your green fashion finds!
• Whether it’s a complete second hand wardrobe overhaul from your local Dorothy House shop or a vintage find from our virtual shop, we want you to share it with us.
• Tag us @dorothyhousehc when you post using the hashtag #SustainableSeptember and every day we’ll share your fashion stories.
• You can also let us know that you’re taking part by downloading our Sustainable September tiles and share them in your feed.

Shop our Second Hand Sales

To help you along your way in sourcing your new sustainable wardrobe, we’re hosting a sale at our Corsham Warehouse on Saturday 3 September, where you’ll be able to fill a bag of second hand clothes for just £10. At the end of the month, you can celebrate your new-found love of ethical fashion at our Kilo Sale in Trowbridge on Saturday 1 October.

Not only is taking part in Sustainable September a great way to do your bit, but by shopping at Dorothy House, you’ll be supporting valuable work in your local community. Every purchase you make helps us to provide outstanding palliative and end of life care to patients with life limiting illnesses and their families across the region. Whether you dive into a full-on wardrobe haul over the month or pick up just one thing that catches your eye, you will be helping us to make a difference.