With the ever-growing trend of vintage fashion, the clothes market has seen a drastic change in attitudes towards secondhand clothing within the last decade. Not only is it cheaper and better for the environment, but it is also easy to find on high street charity shops or apps like Depop and Vinted, making it accessible for all.
The cost of living crisis has pushed many to find ways to shop more affordably, and buying secondhand gives people a way to enjoy good quality items at reasonable prices. Not all items are pre-worn either, some being sold at a discounted price completely new with tags.
Pre-loved items have found a particular popularity with younger generations, and whilst buying from charity shops might have been looked down on in the past, it is now seen as a ‘cool’ way to buy unique clothes and save money. As concern for climate change is growing, it is also an easy way for young people to make a difference, swapping fast fashion and landfill for a more sustainable way of shopping.
The fashion industry is one of the greatest contributors to carbon admissions, with 300,000 tonnes of clothes ending up in landfill each year. Selling or donating old clothes instead of throwing them away can help reduce this as well, and serves as an easy way for anyone to make money out of items they already own, but don't necessarily wear anymore.
Social media has played a key role in the promotion of buying second hand items, with videos of ‘thrift hauls’ and ‘vinted finds’ influencing others to try the same. Many find it to be an easy way of building a personal sense of style, as clothes found in a charity shop are less likely to be widely owned, and therefore more unique and individual.
The market for secondhand clothes is growing, predicted to increase by over 120% by 2026. Everyone can do their part for the environment by shopping sustainably, so why not save money and give it a go?
