Secondhand September 2027 – Let’s make it bigger and better!
In 2026, we dabbled in Secondhand September! We updated our South Canterbury secondhand shop directories, visited lots of local shops, secondhand markets were hosted in the community and we hosted a Fast Fashion talk.
But what else could we do to encourage more people to think secondhand first?
We’d love to see Secondhand September 2027 become a month full of opportunities to discover pre-loved treasures, learn new skills, save money and give good-quality items a second life.
💡 Have an idea for an event? We’d love to hear from you!
Here are just a few ideas to get you thinking:
🚌 School secondhand swaps / fundraisers – great way to pass on the books, clothes or toys your kids are growing out of!
🚌 Secondhand shopping trips – jump on a bus and explore secondhand shops in Temuka, Waimate, Oamaru or further afield!
👗 Clothing swaps – refresh your wardrobe without buying new.
🛍️ Secondhand markets – host a market for pre-loved clothing, toys, books, household goods or just about anything else!
🧵 Mending and upcycling workshops – learn to repair, repurpose or transform something old into something new.
🎲 Toy and book swaps – give toys and books a new home and discover something different.
🏡 Community garage sale trails – get the neighbourhood involved in a day of buying and selling pre-loved goods.
👚 Op-shop challenges – challenge people to put together an outfit, decorate a room or find a special treasure on a budget.
👩🏫 School or workplace challenges – encourage people to go secondhand first for a month and share their finds.
📚 Talks and demonstrations – explore the benefits of buying secondhand, reducing waste and making our belongings last longer.
🛠️ Repair and reuse events – bring people together to fix, restore and reuse items instead of replacing them.
✨ What other ideas do you have?
Whether you’re a business, community group, school, market organiser or simply someone passionate about reuse, we’d love you to get involved!
We’re keen to create a community calendar of Secondhand September events across South Canterbury for September 2027, making it easier for people to get involved and discover what’s happening in their area.
📩 Want to host an event or have an idea to share? Contact Alice at the South Canterbury Eco Centre!
Let’s make secondhand the first choice, not the last resort. 💚♻️