It’s Secondhand September so there’s never been a better time to shop secondhand - planet and pocket friendly, it’s not just for clothing, second hand glasses and sunglasses are a sustainable investment in both your wardrobe and our planet.

second hand september

Oxfam started Secondhand September to shine a light on preloved where people pledge to shop only secondhand for the month, usually associated with Fashion Week, urging them to shop style over trends.

In contrast to thrifting through charity and musty vintage rails (which I’m still a sucker for), Preloved fashion (and homeware) has evolved to chic new levels from designer pieces, deadstock vintage, professional restoration and highly curated stock through the likes of independent Instagram vintage stores, eBay, Vinted and Depop.

In hopping off the trend cycle you can develop your personal style, reducing overconsumption and investing in what suits you; rewearing and repairing for years to come.

Overproduction in glasses, just as clothing, alongside a dollop of dubious 2 for 1 marketing (though we do recommend a spare pair) has resulted in frames floating around the country - mainly ending up in landfill. Unless frames are repurposed by a charity or preloved organisation and thats where we come in..

All secondhand frames donated to us are either restored and resold, benefiting our charity partners, reused through Lions Club across the globe for eye charities, utilised for repairs or if we really can’t find a use and they’re beyond repair, broken down into individual components and fully recycled.

We give a £10 voucher towards a new frame with donations, so if you have second hand frames hanging around head here to donate and recycle your glasses.

Vintage glasses

Shopping secondhand is easy with our vintage glasses range, either glasses frames are restored back to former glory or choose from deadstock vintage frames that have never been worn (New Old Stock).

One of a kind pieces, when they’re gone they’re gone, there’s nothing mundane about these babies. Made in bygone days, produced in smaller batches, low waste and often handmade. You can pick up on current trends with an original piece from the era of origin.

If you’re looking to source a secondhand glasses frame from a vintage seller, look for a solid well made frame, made by a reputable eyewear manufacturer like Oliver Goldsmith, Silhouette, Persol, Anglo American, Rodenstock or best of all a made in England stamp. We can restore these to former glory with our restoration services reworking broken hinges, replacing broken parts and updating with fresh new lenses and prescriptions.

Preloved designer glasses and sunglasses

Our preloved designer glasses frames are fully restored and brought back to life or choose from our never worn deadstock designer frames. It’s amazing how some of our preloved frames need very little work - they’re lightly worn and well looked after, but this is often a result of customers being encouraged to overconsume and buy new with every prescription update.

The joy of choosing secondhand designer glasses is they become much more affordable. You enjoy a premium quality piece from your favourite designer and know you’re doing your bit to save the planet at the same time.

How to take part in Secondhand September

Take the Oxfam pledge and find out more about the problems with throwaway fashion at Fashion Revolution.

You don’t have to shop to take part - why not host a clothes swap with friends.

Do a wardrobe edit and mix things up so you fall back in love with what you already own.

Repair and rewear - get to that mending pile and if your eyewear needs some tlc check out our restoration services.

Happy Secondhand September!

Jo