Shopping secondhand glasses and sunglasses

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

Second Hand September

Cotton Bro

We’re big on sustainable second hand shopping here at Peep, not only because you can find unique pieces from different decades, but because it greatly reduces our impact on the planet.

The textile industry alone accounts for about 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and is a big contributor to the climate emergency. But we can take action by taking part in Oxfam’s Second Hand September Challange to buy nothing new and shop only second hand for the month of September… and beyond.

what is second hand september?

Oxfam

Fast fashion is damaging our planet. The excess waste from this throwaway lifestyle is putting pressure on the environment. People living in the poorest countries are suffering the most yet have done the least to cause it. Shopping and donating with Oxfam helps to raise vital funds to help families tackle the crisis in their communities.

Although Oxfam don’t believe the responsibility to fix the problem lies with us shoppers (agreed) – Second Hand September and slow living is a way of individually doing our bit to make our lives more sustainable.

Check out Oxfam’s pop up shop in London Selfridges full of incredible second hand pieces selected by their thrift expert Bay Garnett. When you donate clothes to Oxfam nothing goes to landfill and now you can donate them by post. Order your free donation bag from Oxfam or donate in-store.

Search #SecondHandSeptember on Instagram to find loads of inspiration and tag @OxfamGB

why shop second hand

Cotton Bro

It’s sustainable

You’re extending the life of clothes, because when you buy a used item you are saving all the resources it took to make that item. It takes 2,700 litres of water to make one new cotton t-shirt compared to a second hand tee from a charity shop which uses none. The same applies for eyewear and homewares - it’s a step towards a circular economy where everything is reused, repaired, and recycled.

More choice, unique pieces

There are so many great wardrobe staples you can find alongside unique gems you can uncover from different eras, from 90s power suits to 70s coats, the trend cycle means that the previous decades are regularly back in fashion. You can find designer items at an affordable price and styles that are no longer being produced. We love that you can express your individuality more with preloved fashion and homewares, find your own style and what truly suits, instead of being dictated by trends.

Keeping clothes out of landfill

13 million items of used clothing ends up in UK landfill every week. When you shop secondhand fashion or homeware, you’re keeping these items out of landfill and back in circulation while reducing the demand for fast fashion and fast homeware.

Secondhand goods are better quality

Vintage items were made to last. Older items are often better made, sometimes handmade from better materials, from a time when quality was prized over quantity. That’s why the vintage market is thriving with so many amazing sellers curating beautful pieces from the 60s, 70s and 80s all in exquisite condition.

If you buy something second hand but decide you no longer want it you can sell it on or donate and keep the cycle going.

Giving back

Shopping and donating with Oxfam, and other charities, helps to raise money for people who are suffering the effects of the climate emergency right now. You could help fund a solar-powered pump that brings water up from underground during dry season, or provide farmers with drought-resistant seeds. When you shop second hand you’re giving back to a charity or small sustainable business instead helping of big boys get bigger.

How to shop second hand

Shopping second hand has never been easier with shops like eBay, Vinted, and DePop you can buy secondhand from the comfort of your sofa. Instagram is a mecca for beautifully curated vintage and preloved fashion and homewares, where sellers do the hard work for you handpicking quality and stand out pieces.

Or if you want to get hands on, there are still charity shops on the high street and their doors are open, if you can’t try items on in a changing room, you can often exchange and return. There’s also the pleasure of thrifting through local fleamarkets, antique shows and car boot sales - it’s addictive.

Here’s our tip tips to shopping second hand..

Know what’s in your wardrobe - knowing what you’ve already got to work with, any pieces that you purchase will save you from repeats.

Go with a shopping list - pieces that you’re missing from your wardorbe that you actually need, will save you from indulging in retail therapy. Charity shops are great for staples like mens tailoring and knitwear.

Know yourself - what styles and shapes suit, colour palettes that work for you and fit in with what’s in your wardrobe.

Know your measurements - vintage clothing comes up smaller than modern sizing so take your measurements before shopping, such as bust, waist and hips.

Give it a good once over - if it’s virtual read the condition report and check the pieces for stains and damage. You can always ask for more information. Old fashioned labels and zips will give you a clue to the pieces age.

Look at what it’s made of - try to source mostly natural fibers like cotton, silk, linen, and wool as they’re more breathable and planet friendly to wash and stay away from anything that needs dry cleaning.

When you shop second hand or vintage, buy only what you need or love, that way you’ll always be shopping sustainably.

Take a peep at our range preloved and vintage second hand frames.

Jo