Felicity Jones steps out in Oxfam for Second Hand September

British actor Felicity Jones steps out in pre-loved fashion ahead of Oxfam’s Second Hand September campaign

Felicity Jones is fronting Oxfam’s Second Hand September campaign to encourage people to shop preloved and reduce the impact of the fashion industry on the planet. The actor, who was nominated for an Oscar for her appearance in The Theory of Everything, will feature in posters in the windows of more than 500 Oxfam shops nationwide. Modelling a variety of second-hand clothes chosen by Oxfam’s Independent Fashion Advisor Bay Garnett, Jones hopes to encourage people to sign up to the #SecondHandSeptember challenge and shop pre-loved fashion for the month. Shoppers can raise awareness by sharing their one-of-a-kind finds using #SecondHandSeptember and tagging @OxfamGB.

The fashion industry accounts for 10 percent of global CO2 emissions – more than international aviation and shipping combined. Oxfam research shows that if adults in the UK bought one pair of second-hand jeans a year instead of brand new it would lead to a reduction in emissions comparable to travelling three billion fewer miles in a petrol car. Oxfam’s campaign comes ahead of the UN climate summit COP27 in November, which is a vital opportunity for global leaders to take decisive action to tackle the climate emergency.

Jones, who has been shopping second-hand for many years, used to love looking for bargains on the High Street in Harborne and Moseley Village in Birmingham, where she grew up, and loves looking on Berwick Street in SoHo and Chiswick, London.

Jones said: “It’s just such a joy buying second-hand; it’s a way of coming across the unexpected. You never know quite what you’re going to find which is a delight. I love shopping at Oxfam; the shops are a treasure trove. I’ve often found myself stumbling upon something special which has a history to it, like my velvet bag which has two little cat footprints on the back. I love knowing that someone else has owned it and that’s imbued in the item.”

Other celebrities supporting Second Hand September include Mya-Rose Craig; Dresslikeamum; Dame Helen Mirren; Miquita and Andi Oliver; and Simon Pegg.

Oxfam research shows that garments needn’t be brand new for to deliver that post shopping glow: more than half of the 2,000 Brits surveyed believe buying ‘new’ clothes doesn’t necessarily mean buying something brand new, as long as it’s new to them.

Danny Sriskandarajah, Chief Executive of Oxfam GB, said: “We all love the buzz of buying a new outfit. So why not take the Second Hand September challenge and get the triple-whammy feel-good factor: freshen up your wardrobe, help protect our planet, and support people to beat poverty worldwide.

“While the climate crisis is affecting us all, it’s hitting some communities worse. People facing poverty often don’t have access to the support needed to survive and recover from extreme weather, such as clean water on tap during a drought, or house insurance to help rebuild after homes are destroyed by floods.

“The science is clear that we only have eight years to urgently and significantly reduce carbon emissions to prevent global warming from becoming a global catastrophe, which would create human suffering on an unimaginable scale. It’s not too late if we all take urgent action together.”

The money raised from sales in Oxfam shops goes towards its work fighting poverty around the world. Oxfam’s climate work focuses on three core areas: emergency response, long-term development, and campaigning for change. Right now, millions in East Africa are facing the threat of starvation following the worst drought in 40 years. It is estimated that one person is dying every 48 seconds in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia alone. Oxfam, together with local partners, is supporting the most vulnerable with lifesaving food, cash assistance and water and sanitation services.

People can support Second Hand September by taking the 30-day challenge to shop pre-loved for the month.