Your clothes should make you feel good, inside and out. For us, that means sustainably-made or pre-loved outfits that spark joy – and maybe even conversation. Cue our love for Secondhand September. 

What Is It?

Secondhand September celebrates going beyond fast fashion trends, challenging shoppers to only buy pre-loved styles during September. It’s a push for fashion lovers to rethink a month usually associated with Fashion Week, back to school shopping, and fall/winter hauls.

Why Buy Pre-loved?

It’s no secret that the fashion industry isn’t very eco-friendly. Production of new clothing leaves a large environmental impact by using excessive resources and causes pollution in its wake. Additionally, trendy fast fashion leaves millions of clothes in the landfill every year.

By recirculating our clothes (AKA buying, wearing, and donating secondhand) we can help reduce the demand, thus reducing the damage to our planet. Sounds like a win-win to us!

Tips For Shopping Secondhand

Know Your Style – What fabrics do you like to wear? Are there certain colors or fits you gravitate toward? Look at your favorite closet staples for inspiration. Knowing what you love means you’re less likely to become overwhelmed by options or buy something randomly just because it’s cheap.

New Additions – If you’re thrifting with the intention to add something fresh to your closet, think about what exactly you’re looking for. A new color or print? A dress or a shirt? Black pants for an event? The more specific this is, the less overwhelming the process can feel.

Does It Match? – Ask yourself if your pre-loved pick will go with the rest of your wardrobe. Then, take it a step further and see if you can mentally match it with multiple outfits.

TLC – Take a peek at the fabric tags and ask yourself if you’re willing to care for the garment properly. Some items are dry clean only, while others run the risk of shrinking in the dryer. (Pssst, our Sweater Care Guide and Eco Laundry Tips guides are also a great resource for knowing what to do!)

Take The Time – It can be fun to rummage and really take your time perusing racks. Giving yourself time to find secondhand scores can also mean more intention behind purchases.

Where To Start

For Toad clothes, it's easy to shop pre-loved or sell your Toad clothes at our online ToadAgain resale platform (bonus: if you're in Maine, you can also buy at our ToadAgain HQ in Portland). It’s the best place to score favorite past season styles and keep your closet adventuring.

There are so many great local and online secondhand and consignment clothing stores to shop, from bigger spots like Poshmark and Ebay to smaller “Mom and Pop” shops. See what’s local to you, or take a scroll online.