Embrace sustainable fashion this September by shopping second-hand at St Margaret's Hospice Care's store in Wells.

Refresh your wardrobe with quality pre-loved clothes and reduce your environmental impact while supporting your local hospice.

September has become synonymous with sustainability in recent years, with initiatives like The Great British Beach Clean and Second-Hand September taking center stage in the green calendar. These efforts are all about responding to the urgent threat of climate change.

St Margaret's Hospice joins the charge with its Sustainable September campaign this year. The campaign aims to raise awareness about the benefits of second-hand shopping and upcycling.

The campaign follows closely on the heels of St Margaret's Summer Sewing Bee, where people across Somerset transformed pre-loved materials from the charity's shops into creative, summer-themed items through upcycling. The hospice received remarkable entries, including the winning creation: an XL men's shirt transformed into a Trixie bag, book sleeve, a reversible Billie Bucket hat, and a pippa for coins. The success of the Sewing Bee has inspired the team to continue raising awareness of upcycling in future events.

Why Participate in Sustainable September?

The fashion and textile industry ranks as the joint third-highest emitter of greenhouse gases globally, accounting for approximately 5% of global emissions, according to The Institute of Positive Fashion. As people become more environmentally conscious, consumer habits have shifted, with charity shops leading the way in promoting and delivering a sustainable alternative to fast fashion.

St Margaret's Hospice is at the forefront of this movement, with its 31 shops offering Somerset residents a sustainable approach to fashion and home goods. In the first half of 2023, the hospice's shops prevented 571,255 kg of used items from going to landfill, equivalent to over an astonishing 7 million kg of CO2 saved from the atmosphere. This impressive figure reflects not only the items sold in their shops but also those that can't be sold and go through a recycling and reuse process. Nothing goes to waste.

By rehoming numerous pre-loved items within the community, from clothing and bric-a-brac to furniture and electronics, the charity's shops have been actively contributing to a more sustainable shopping ethos.

How to Get Involved in Sustainable September

- Declutter your wardrobe and consider donating clothes you haven't worn in a while before shopping for new items.

- Make a pledge to exclusively shop second-hand throughout September at one of the 31 shops.

- Share your pre-loved fashion finds on social media using the hashtag #SustainableSeptember.

- Visit the shops and consult with their knowledgeable teams to discover the best eco-friendly fashion deals.

Participating in Sustainable September isn't just a fantastic way to reduce your environmental impact and update your wardrobe; it also supports the valuable care that St Margaret's provides to around 5,000 people across Somerset each year.

Every purchase you make at one of the hospice's shops enables St Margaret's staff to deliver compassionate end-of-life care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families when they need it most.

So, become part of the re-wear, recirculate, and reuse revolution today by visiting St Margaret's shops. Your contribution truly makes a significant difference.