Creative take on getting more folk to donate and upcycle

Shelter has launched a new campaign encouraging more people to discover shopping second-hand and this September.

Dubbed resale therapy, the campaign is promoting the fact second hand is good for the environment and does not mean canny shoppers are restricted to old dowdy clothing.

It comes as new government figures show record numbers of households are facing homelessness with the charity’s services needed now more than ever.

On 30 September 2022 there were 28,944 live homelessness cases in Scotland. This is the highest number on record in Scotland and up 11% compared to the previous year.

The total CO2 footprint of clothing in the UK in 2016 was 26.2 million tonnes, with 921,000 tonnes of textiles ending up in household residual waste in 2017. However, by doubling the life of clothes, greenhouse gas emissions can be lowered by 44%.  

The charity says: “To help you make more conscious fashion choices this September, we’ve teamed up with a host of content creators and makers to share tips and tricks to get the best out of charity shopping and are running a programme of clinic events to help shoppers upcycle, mend or alter clothes to prolong their life.”

In Scotland, people can drop by Shelter’s Motherwell shop on 16 September with their unloved outfits or can pick a secondhand item from the rails and learn how to restyle, customise and alter to breathe new life into old favourites. Full details below.

Motherwell shop, Unit 18 Brandon Parade, South Motherwell, 16 September, 11am - 3pm. Hosted by Conor Blessing and Ros Williams Sign up here