A few years ago, buying second-hand clothes wasn’t something to be proud of. If someone buys old clothes, most people will think that they simply cannot afford new clothes. However, in recent years, buying second-hand goods has become a popular trend in the fashion industry.
Websites that allow users to buy and sell second-hand clothes have sprung up on the internet. Poshmark and Depop are two of the most popular online marketplaces for second-hand clothing and accessories. The new popularity of the second-hand clothing market creates huge opportunities for fashion shoppers to positively impact themselves, the planet, and society as a whole.
4 Main Advantages of Buying Second-Hand Clothes
1. Reduce Environmental Impact
Buying second-hand clothes means that you reuse clothes that others have previously worn. Used items are usually in good condition and can continue to be worn, but end up in the trash instead of being donated or resold.
A shirt that no longer fits someone else may be best for you. Many clothes, especially good quality ones, can last for decades if handled properly. Unfortunately, many of us tend to throw away our clothes after a year or two of wearing them because they are no longer popular or no longer suitable for us. Discarded clothes occupy valuable space in landfills that can only be occupied by non-reusable or non-recyclable materials.
In addition, manufacturing and dyeing clothes requires the use of potentially hazardous chemicals. These chemicals pose a threat not only to water, air, and the planet, but also to the people who work with them. By buying used clothes, we can reduce our environmental impact in a number of ways.
How can buying second-hand goods help the environment?
- Buying second-hand clothing helps reduce the overall demand for the production of new clothing.
- Choosing to wear used clothes means you’re helping to recycle useful items that might otherwise end up in landfills.
2. Exploitative Working Conditions Are Not Promoted
Many of your clothes are most likely produced in poor areas, where workers produce clothes for more than 12 hours a day for meagre wages. At the same time, those of us living in more industrialized countries are also worried about which new coat and matching shoes to look good this season. This is a disgusting paradox.
Buying second-hand clothing won’t have an immediate impact on the harsh working conditions in foreign manufacturing plants, but it may help convey the message that the fashion and retail industry needs to rethink its strategy. Consumers have spending power, which in turn helps determine how the industry operates. If we change habits, manufacturers and retailers may eventually change their habits as well. Let’s work to reduce the demand for new clothing in areas where working conditions are exploited.
3. Save You Hundreds of Dollars
One of the big side effects of buying second-hand clothes is that you can save a lot of money. You can buy clothes of top brands at cheap prices, since they have been worn several times and are no longer attractive to their owners. If you are a victim of expensive fashion trends, buying second-hand clothes allows you to buy more clothes while spending less money than when buying new clothes.
Some second-hand clothing retailers are more expensive than others, but if you’re not picky about brand names, thrift stores, yard thrift sales, and free stacking tend to offer the best value. On the other hand, if your fashion tastes are fairly clear, online peer-to-peer retailers like Depop and Poshmark will be your best friends. Some sites even offer monthly subscription boxes with heavily discounted, second-hand designer clothing.
4.Your retro style looks more authentic
Another benefit of buying second-hand clothes is that you will find one-of-a-kind clothes that others do not have. By buying only second-hand and vintage clothing, you can look unique without much effort.
We all know that fashion always repeats itself. New versions of styles that were once considered obsolete suddenly reappear in stores. So, instead of buying “vintage-style” ballet heels like all girlfriends, go to a second-hand store and look for a one-of-a-kind pair of ballet heels so your look will feel more authentic.
There are some major advantages to buying second-hand clothes!
I’ve never been the kind of person who has twenty different wallets or shoes at home, but I do buy new clothes. I never imagined that I could buy the same clothes at a much lower price while still helping to protect the environment. Then I found some great sites and everything changed when I bought a few used Hilfiger sweaters, some ski pants, and even two skis for a bargain. The items are like new, and I’m happy to have only spent about 15% of their retail value.
Our current economic system is based on overconsumption. Consumption is the driving force behind economic vitality and job creation. However, common sense is that unlimited growth on a resource-finite planet is not feasible or sustainable. More and more people are aware of this and are changing their habits to prove that wasting resources doesn’t have to be the norm.
Let’s protect the environment, help end exploitation by clothing manufacturers, save a lot of money, and look great! Shopping is one of many steps towards a cleaner, more socially responsible world. I invite all of you to join me in taking this step.
