Five Reasons to Rethink Where You Shop

1 - Water Beats Poverty

From growing the cotton to the dyeing process, it can take a whopping estimated 10,000 litres of water to make just one pair of jeans and one t-shirt. To put this into context, it would take more than 13 years to drink that much water. Millions of pairs of jeans are sold in Ireland every year. But with so many people around the world living without safe, clean water – and global demand for water continuing to rise – you’ve got to wonder if such a thirst for fashion can go on.  When you shop for secondhand jeans at Oxfam, you’ll be helping to make sure that families around the world get the water they need. That’s because the money raised goes into our work to help communities worldwide beat poverty for good. This includes providing clean, safe water – something we all need to live a healthy, dignified life. In fact, in the words of Takudzwa, an Oxfam water engineer in Zimbabwe, water IS life.

2 - Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

If you’re trying to live a little greener, you’ve probably thought about the way you travel, maybe even what you eat.  But many of us haven’t even considered the contents of our wardrobes. The carbon footprint of one new shirt is bigger than driving a car for 55km while the textile industry accounts for more of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions than international aviation and shipping combined. 

3 - 'True Cost' of Fashion

Many garment industry workers in countries such as Bangladesh and Cambodia don’t receive a living wage despite working in dangerous conditions. This pay injustice keeps families trapped in a cycle of poverty. In some cases, workers are expected to meet tight deadlines, while discrimination and harassment from management continues to be a major concern. This hidden reality of fast fashion has many unseen victims.  

4 - Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle

Every year in Ireland, 225,000 tonnes of clothing end up in landfill. Thankfully, there’s a really easy way we can all have an instant impact – by wearing and caring for clothes for longer. And by recycling or donating the things we don’t want. Millions of items could be saved from landfill every week. Donate your clothes to Oxfam and you’ll be helping to tackle landfill waste – even if your clothes don’t sell in our shops. Because any items that don’t find a new home are sent to Wastesaver, Oxfam’s huge sorting and recycling centre, which saves around 12,000 tonnes of clothing from landfill every year.

5 - Affordable Style

Imagine it’s the end of the month and you can just about see that long-awaited payslip around the corner. On payday, do you hit the high street and drop a hefty portion of that new payslip on some trousers? Or do you pop into your local Oxfam shop to explore its selection of stylish, affordable trousers? Shop with us and you’ll be helping us to fight poverty today – and beat it for good. 

Sign the pledge to say no to new clothes for 30 days. Instead, pop into your local Oxfam shop today to find your next favourite outfit.