Watford charities have urged shoppers to follow in Greta Thunberg's footsteps after she pledged to only buy second-hand clothes to help tackle the climate crisis.
The 18-year-old environmental activist recently announced in an interview with The Sunday Times that when it comes to clothes she will only buy second-hand.
She said: “The worst-case scenario I guess I’ll buy second-hand but I don’t need new clothes.
"I know people who have clothes so I would ask them if I could borrow them or if they have something they don’t need anymore, I don’t see it as a sacrifice.”
Home-Start Watford and Three Rivers is a Watford-based charity that sells second-hand clothing to help support local families with young children.
A charity spokesperson said: "We are keen to lead the town into a more sustainable and fashionable future taking inspiration from the activist Greta Thunberg by reducing the impact fashion causes on the climate, people and animals, by reselling donated items, reducing the impact of production and diverting them from landfill."
They added that fashion role model Elias Riadi had previously donated top brands, and the store's goal is to create a sustainable option for Watford shoppers without sacrificing style.
It will be soon be launching e-commerce stores on major platforms such as eBay, Amazon and Shopify.
A spokesperson for Watford’s Peace Hospice Care also encouraged shoppers to buy second-hand, adding: “Shopping in charity shops not only impacts upon our environmental footprint – reducing waste and landfill and increasing recycling, but it also helps support local communities."
Peace Hospice Care has 11 charity shops across South West Hertfordshire two of which are in Watford and this year is their 30th anniversary.
The Watford High Street Shop is currently closed but its Watford Pond Shop is open Monday-Saturday from 10am-4pm.
“We’d love to welcome local residents to shop with us – providing vital support to us as a charity, but also reducing carbon footprint and supporting environmental sustainability,” they added.
The RSPCA in Watford said: "Charity shops are an important way to shop ethically and sustainably at the same time as supporting good causes like the RSPCA, which is why it's great to see influential people like Greta Thunberg pledging to only shop second-hand from now on.
“There are some amazing bargains to be had in our shops that will make you look good but also make you feel good that you are stepping away from fast fashion which is damaging for the environment, animals and our wallets.”
Fast fashion poses enormous problems for the environment because clothing often moves quickly from catwalks to stores, and then when trends change, they often end up in landfills.
The Charity Retail Association estimates each charity shop saves 29 tonnes of textiles from going into landfill each year with over 300 RSPCA charity shops that's around 8,700 tonnes saved.
Jo Mewett, head of retail operations at Cancer Research UK, said: “It’s fantastic to see inspirational people like Greta helping to raise awareness that charity shops extend the life cycle of products and can have a positive impact on the environment, we encourage more people to follow her lead.
“As a charity, we are constantly evolving our retail offering to meet the needs of the modern shopper, we have a presence online on platforms such as Depop and ASOS Marketplace, which caters to a young, trend driven customer.
“Anyone considering making a pledge like Greta’s might want to read Knickers Models Own, which charts one woman’s year of wearing nothing but pre-loved style.”
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