One of my main goals for this year is to be much more mindful of my clothing consumption.  The more I dig into the detrimental effects of the fashion industry (particularly fast fashion…) the more horrified I am! From human rights violations, garments shedding microplastics  into our environment, water consumption and pollution, the filling of the landfills with clothing, exposure of toxic chemicals found in synthetic materials…( I could go on…) but the fashion industry MUST do better. And you know what? We CAN do better.  Shop less, repair more, buy secondhand, use natural fibers, and be a conscious consumer. 
As I have said before, I am always reticent to put the responsibility on the consumer, as I believe we need institutional change at a large level to hold the fashion industry accountable.  But…I am so ashamed of some of my past shopping habits, but to reference a famous quote, “When you know better, do better!”  So in order to share my journey into a more sustainable wardrobe, I will be sharing a second hand look every Sunday via my instagram.  This was inspired by the blogger Sequins and Sales.  

Why Buy Second Hand?

Picture
Picture

Where To Shop For Quality Second Hand or Vintage Clothing Online:

 I know that there are some people that love the hunt of thrifting, but right now (during covid) it is much more difficult to get to thrift stores. There are many options out there to purchase second hand or vintage clothing and other items online.  Several of my frequented sites/apps are Mercari, Poshmark, Depop, The Real Real, Vestiaire Collective.  They are all online marketplaces for second hand, thrifted and vintage items.  FYI: The difference between second hand and vintage- second hand are previously owned items and vintage is a subcategory of that in which clothes are between 20-100 years old.  You can also use Facebook Marketplace, Letgo, Kidizen, Nextdoor, Ebay and Facebook Groups like The Buy Nothing Project and your local swap groups to purchase second hand items.  

You can sell your second hand or used items on many of these platforms as well!

Tips For Purchasing Second Hand Clothing Online:

  • Know your measurements : often people will list the exact measurements for the item you are looking at online, if they do not have it listed it is totally fine to ask!
  • Look at the materials: will they wash/age well? Synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, rayon, acrylic, spandex, or faux fur naturally shed tiny plastic particles when you wear and wash them.  When thrown in a landfill, polyester takes more than 200 years to decompose. (more on this in a later post!)  Natural fibers come with their own human rights issues but they do tend to be better for the environment and wash/age better.
  • It can be helpful to shop brands that you already know and love.  That way you already know your fit.  I like the fit of Everlane clothing, so I often shop second hand for that brand.
  • Invest in pieces you think will also last you! You can find all sorts of quality pieces second hand. I scored 2 cashmere sweaters and a pair of amazing leather flats! 
  • Don’t be afraid to “reposh” or resell when you are done.  If you take care of your items, there is no reason that you cannot pass it on to someone else when you feel done with it. Let’s normalize re-gifting to friends too!
  • Take it to the tailor if you want to get it just right.  Make it a piece you will LOVE

Final Thoughts

I want to remind you that the most sustainable wardrobe you have is the one in your closet right now.  Wear what you have when you can (I need to take my own advice on this one more often.)

​In a later post I will include some recommendations for some great sustainable clothing companies- as there are things that we still want first hand (hello underwear) and also, there are times we just want something new to us.  It is important to keep companies like this in business too! Vote with your dollar and support businesses that are pushing the fashion industry to be more ethical and sustainable!
​
I am going to wrap this up now as this is getting LONG.  If you made it this far, you deserve a cookie.  Good for you! And thanks for reading!