INTERVIEW: Secondhand September

Image: Friday Vintage

We’re so over overconsumption: this month is Secondhand September, and it’s all about putting the ‘love’ into pre-loved. Let’s dive deeper into eco-friendly culture in the North East. For two North East entrepreneurs who opened their own vintage stores with a passion for all things hand-me-down, Secondhand September is a year-round dedication.

Helen Redfern founded Gateshead’s Green Heart Collective in the midst of lockdown… “when people had time to sort out their possessions but nowhere to take them. We sort, wash, steam and mend these beautiful clothes and give them a second life, rather than ending up in clothing mountains in South America or in a mega incinerator belching out noxious fumes.”

Newcastle-based secondhand store Friday Vintage is Laura Jackson’s labour of love. “I love finding unique labels or sought after ones. It’s important to me to find pieces that are on trend too. Whilst the high street stores may be making copies of 90s classics, the real ones can be found in our store.”

Both business owners advocate for buying secondhand for the planet and for its people. “There are enough clothes on the planet to dress the next six generations!” Explains Redfern. “An estimated 80-150 billion garments are made a year for a world population of eight billion. The damage to the planet of clothing production and disposal is tragic. We have to stop buying new and buy pre-loved instead if we have any chance of sustaining a habitable planet.”

It’s inevitable that secondhand fashion will become the new norm

For Jackson, shopping pre-loved is more than a sustainability choice: it’s just smart spending. “It’s inevitable that secondhand fashion will become the new norm. There’re some incredible gems to be found from decades past, when things were made to last. It’s cheaper for you, in the short term and long term.” What the market needs is a little pressure, she continues: “Even choosing to shop secondhand occasionally can have a big impact. If we knew the real cost of fast fashion, I doubt many people would choose it as often. Fast fashion is only ‘fast’ because the consumer makes it so. It’s in our hands to change the model as to which the market applies itself.”

Green Heart’s directory of vintage shopping locations and sustainable eateries across the North East helps close that circle. “We have a huge mission – to reduce waste to landfill. There’s no way we can achieve that on our own. Together, we can make a difference. The work is massive and supporting each other is a key part of achieving our vision.”

So where do we begin? Luckily, this month the Festival of Thrift, the North East’s celebration of sustainability takes place in Billingham on Saturday 21^st and Sunday 22^nd September, and includes market stalls, workshops and performances centred around creating a cleaner, greener way of living. Entertainment highlights include live performances from local musicians in collaboration with regional promoters Base Camp Industries, and artistic interactive storytelling with the dancers from the Sonia Sabri Company. But the star of the show will always be opportunity to explore sustainable skills and experiences: build your own den out of recycled materials, fix and mend anything from your pants to your laptop, or see a future-facing fashion show featuring upcycled finds before you shop from vintage pop-up stalls in the town centre.

So, whether you check out all that Festival of Thrift has to offer to guide you on your sustainability journey, partake in a meat-free Monday this month, or switch to shopping secondhand at one of the fine vintage establishments in the North East, Secondhand September can be the perfect opportunity to make the move towards an eco-friendlier way of life.