Now in its sixth year, the campaign encourages the public to participate throughout September by committing to “dress for the world you want.”
The campaign, which will begin on September 1, aims to raise awareness about the environmental impact of the textile industry and promote the benefits of sustainable, pre-loved fashion, and by choosing second-hand clothing, individuals can contribute to the fight against climate change.
The Aherla native and UCC graduate is the campaign’s lead ambassador, and said she was “really delighted to be asked.”
“I immediately said yes when Oxfam invited me to come on board as their ambassador,” she continued, “I’ve learned lessons from being a poor student and then a poor actor.
“Later I gained a bit of income – yet I’m still shopping in the same places, which are all second-hand. There are more interesting clothes, the items are better quality, they’re more size inclusive. It makes sense to me as somebody who is interested in clothing.”
She added: “The joy of knowing that you’re not contributing to the absolute mess of the world makes the whole experience all the better. It’s all the more satisfying. There is a huge ethical responsibility when it comes to clothing. A lot of weight is put on the individual.
“There’s so little we can do in the face of such huge systems that are actively working against people who are trying to do good in the world. By buying a really cool item of clothing that’s pre-loved, knowing you could be helping rather than adding to the negativity is a really amazing feeling.”
The actor also highlighted the burden often placed on women regarding ethical consumerism, noting: “I feel that women especially get lumped with a lot of the guilt and responsibility for changing things that we don’t have much power over. My favourite element of buying second-hand is that I’m not contributing to the mess – and landfill.”
Mark Sweeney from Oxfam Ireland’s Trading Team said: “We are sharing a simple but striking fact. Decision-making around where and how we buy our clothes is an area where individual action can have a lasting and meaningful impact. The textile industry is the second-largest polluter in the world, after the oil industry, so the choices people make about their clothes can make a difference.”
He continued: “Our campaign theme – Dress for the World You Want – is about making conscious decisions around doing the right thing by dressing intentionally, in gorgeous, pre-loved outfits that make a statement about who you are and the kind of world you want.”
Oxfam Ireland, which operates 48 shops across the country, is inviting the public to support the campaign using the hashtag #OxfamIrelandSHS.
More details are available at oxfamireland.org, with updates to be posted on Oxfam Ireland’s social media channels throughout the month.
