1 It’s the most sustainable way to shop clothes
As I mentioned in this post about stopping buying plastic clothes, there are now enough clothes on this planet to dress 46 billion people.
Obviously, the humankind doesn’t have the capacity to wear that many clothes, so most of the clothes on this planet right now end up straight to landfill. There the clothes will create greenhouse gases for hundreds of years to come.
So, it goes without saying that the most sustainable clothes are the ones we already own. Take care of what you have, value them and re-style them to create whole new looks.
And IF you have to buy something new, definitely opt for second hand. There are different kinds of second hand stores, from vintage to donated to high-end brand boutiques. Find the stores close to you and go and have a look at what they have to offer. In the process, you make a difference.
2 The money goes to people who might actually need it
This point was brought up in my Instagram post about second hand shopping by Heather from Quinn of the Nerds blog. And it’s a bloody good point!
When you shop fast fashion you’re supporting a billionaire to buy another super-polluting yacht. When you shop second hand your money is going to people who often are in actual need for it.
There’s a lot of power within our wallets and being able to choose to shop second hand instead of fast fashion is a privilege. Not many people in the world have a choice.
It also works the other way round: selling your unwanted/unworn clothes in a second hand store. This way you’re giving someone, who might be in a less fortunate situation, the possibility to dress well. Assuming that what you sell is of good quality and in good condition, of course.
3 You can afford it
Second hand shopping doesn’t discriminate in regards to our level of income. Even within Europe people earn very, very differently. In some countries people can live magnificently with the salary they receive, whereas in others people literally live from one paycheck to another.
Quality second hand stores ensure that we can all afford to look stylish. And as feeble as it may sound, the way we look does actually have a massive impact on our overall well-being and confidence. Don’t you feel much better leaving the house when you know you look good?
We can all afford a style we love when we shop second hand.
4 Your chances of finding actual treasures are HIGH
Continuing on that theme, second hand stores are treasure troves! I’ve often heard people purchasing proper luxury brand items from second hand stores for a real bargain. And even I found some nice brand stuff in the local second hand store.
Luxury brand items can be on the more expensive side even in the second hand stores. But let’s be honest here, there’s a massive difference between paying ￡50 for a brand bag in a second hand store versus its original price of ￡2000.
If you want to make sure that you only purchase quality brand stuff when buying second hand, there are so many great websites and even Facebook groups where people sell their luxury items. Vestiaire is probably the best known location for luxury-hungry second hand shoppers.
5 Your style will be 100% unique
I’m someone who has from a very young age prided herself on standing out from the crowd. I’ve never followed trends, and can’t see myself doing so in the future either. Trends are boring. Trends mean that you look like everybody else, and what’s the fun in that?
Unique style is what gets you noticed, what catches the compliments, and what people will remember. Never underestimate adding a unique twist to your outfit when going to a job interview or a networking event. By playing it safe you ensure that you will go unnoticed.
We don’t want that now, do we? We want to shine, sparkle, be noticed and admired! I know these are not words that come to your mind when you hear the words “shop second hand”. But they could be! I didn’t think so, but I have now been proven wrong.
There is real potential in building a strong, personal style out of a second hand store.
As someone who shunned second hand shopping as something that is of lower quality and worth leaving for those who can’t afford ethically priced brands, I now admit myself greatly mistaken. I was unaware, ignorant and assumed things. Assuming things is never the way to go because 99% of the time we assume wrong.
But I stand corrected! It is NOT sustainable to shop new clothes, period. The only properly sustainable option is to shop your own wardrobe or second hand.
