Swapping fast fashion for pre-loved gems
Image Credit: the blowup on Unsplash
Grace Stanhope,
28th Aug 2023
Tags:
Life
Blog
Beauty
Charity
Environment
Fashion
Shopping
Did you know that the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of annual global carbon emissions? Or that clothing companies create more than one million garments every day? A blog post from Oxfam sharing the effects of Fast Fashion is eye opening.
Would you like to know how you can make a difference?
If we all play our part, we can become more sustainable and tackle these awful effects of fast fashion.
Small changes can make a big difference!
Use online second hand websites
Selling websites such as Vinted, Depot and eBay are on the rise to help tackle fast fashion.
Over eight million people have signed up and use Vinted in the UK, which allows users to sell their pre-loved clothing and items on an app.
I’ve been using Vinted throughout the past year, and I have picked up some major bargains. The clothes are over half the price of what I would be paying if they were brand new.
I used to buy so many brand new clothes, but I came to realise that it wasn’t sustainable on the planet.
I used to buy so many brand new clothes, but I came to realise that it wasn’t sustainable on the planet, and also on my purse! So I have been trying to get into a habit of buying second hand.
Now, pretty much most of my wardrobe is pre-loved and I’m a lot more cautious about what I’m buying new.
Charity shops
I absolutely love charity shops. Not only do they support the good work of local charities, but they house dozens of pre-loved items. From clothes to accessories, books to DVDs, ornaments to furniture, you can find something you’ve been looking for.
I’m a major bookworm, so whenever I visit a charity shop I’m often on the hunt for a new addition to my library. Instead of buying books brand new, I’ve made it a habit to try and find books on my ‘to read’ list in charity shops.
It’s the perfect way to pick up a book you’ve been meaning to read or even to discover new authors and genres for half the price.
Clothes swap
Myself, my mum and my sister will often have wardrobe clear outs, where we look at all the clothes in our wardrobe and take out anything that we don’t wear, don’t like, or items that don’t fit us anymore. We put all those clothes to the side, and we let each other look through the items that we no longer want and take any items we like. It’s such a fun way to discover new clothes! Anything that doesn’t get claimed gets donated to charity.
You could always do this with your family and friends, or even set up a clothes shop in your local community.
Shop sustainably
Of course, there are times when you may need to buy something brand new. It might be a new pair of shoes for school or work, or a pair of jeans. But it’s definitely worth doing the research and finding sustainable options that are friendly on the planet.
