September feels like the beginning of a new year to me and I am starting this September with a challenge. I plan to do ‘Second Hand September’. This is Oxfam’s own description of how it works:
WHAT IS SECOND HAND SEPTEMBER?
Shop second hand and donate, reuse, rewear and restyle during Second Hand September – and beyond!
When you shop and donate second hand, you reduce waste, take a stance against climate change, and help create a fairer world – and you do it all while looking fabulous.
Since 2019, Second Hand September has inspired thousands of people to shop in a way that is kinder to people and planet.
I’m aiming to not just avoid buying any new clothes in September but also to wear only second-hand items each day. This is a small response to the climate crisis but at least it is a response.
According to Oxfam, the global textile industry produces more CO2 emissions than either aviation or shipping. The UK apparently buys more clothes per person than either France or Italy. A month of fashion produces the same amount of CO2 as flying around the world 787 times!
As I’ve explained elsewhere in this blog (here and here, for example) I am extremely concerned about the amount of plastic micro-particles going into the ocean. Many of these come from clothing made from synthetic fabrics. As part of my Second Hand September, I am also listing the fibre content of the secondhand clothes I’m wearing. I’m writing this on the 4th September and so far I’ve worn four outfits.
See the fibre content of the garments here: https://www.instagram.com/amanda_jane_textiles/ You will be able to see the remaining secondhand clothes as the month progresses.
The 1st September was in any case a big day for me. Amanda Jane Textiles began on the September the first 2014 (see here), so on Friday we were nine and I am now beginning my tenth year as a small business.
On the 8th September, issue 54 of Australian online magazine Make Modern will be published.
Coincidentally, Make Modern have also just celebrated their 9th birthday. Inside issue 54 is the pattern for my quilt ‘Tracks across the Meadow’. There will be more details about the quilt next Monday, but here’s a quick look at it.
If you want to buy a copy of Make Modern magazine or take out an annual subscription (or even a lifetime access subscription), click the link here for all the details. (Please note that this is an affiliate link – if you make a purchase, a modest commission helps support my work providing free content on this website and in my monthly newsletters.)
Thank you for reading my blog. Quilt Patterns are here, Fabrics are here, Classes are here
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Linking with the comments on natural fibres above, please note that all my fabric designs on the Spoonflower site can be printed onto 100% cotton. Here for example is ‘Continuous Roses’ – buy it here (there is a 15% discount sitewide until 11.59pm [US Eastern Time] on 5 September 2023).
Amanda Jane Textiles 