4 Reasons to Shop Second-Hand
Yes, I heard it through the grapevine… Purchasing previously-owned goods has a plethora of perks, not just for your battling bank account, but more importantly, for the environment too.
Don’t get me wrong, the musty scent of some thrift stores can be a little less of an alluring aroma, and a lot more towards the nauseating end of that scale. But, there is absolutely nothing like that enticing smell of a bargain calling out your name, or the pure thrill of getting your grubby little hands on a hidden treasure.
Deplorably, the mainstream misconception governs second-hand stigma…
If you’ve never really thrown yourself into tackling the turf of an opportunity shop, you might be under the impression that used items are confined to the depths of the store itself, solely for the satisfaction of antique hunters or the needy…
I’m here to tell you first-hand that after all my years of scavenging thrift stores around the globe, second-hand items are in no way inferior to their newer, novelty counterparts.
Sure, more than often, they might require a bit of sprucing up, but that’s where the beauty lies. There’s contentment in giving something that would’ve otherwise been tossed into the garbage a new chance at life.
And there’s something special about that right there…
As a society, we need to open our minds and think on a more global scale.
Did you know that only 15% of textile waste gets recycled? The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluting industries in the entire world, and as consumers, it’s crucial that we take action on a local level.
If setting your ego aside and putting our environment first isn’t exactly a compelling enough reason to spur you into a recycling revolution, then:
Here’s 4 reasons why you should head to your local thrift store…
Opportunity shops are cheaper.
By all means, you might find the pimp jacket of your dreams in a designer store.
But, there’ll most certainly be a rather hefty price tag that comes along with it.
Thrift stores, even the more lavish, upmarket ones, are less expensive in their own right.
You can save your piggy bank a substantial sum just by opting for the second-hand store.
Even if you’re lucky enough to get your paws on something that’s next to new, you’ll never have to fork out your cashola for the full price tag.
Second-hand clothing is unique.
In your typical thrift shop, the greater part of garments you’ll stumble across will be downright different.
The odds of unearthing two of the same items are scarce.
And the probability is that you won’t exactly be able to bargain for the equivalent ensemble ever again. This is because they’re no longer being made…
So if you fancy an inimitable fixed-up frock, stepping foot in a second-hand store could very well be most nimble-witted decision you’ve made to date.
They’re longer lasting.
When you make the switch to quality thrifted clothing, the likelihood is that they will last you a hell of a lot longer (providing that you care from them properly). This is not some sort of a mystical coincidence.
This is due to the fact that up until a few years back, clothing was actually built to be more on the robust side. Since they were made pre-fast fashion, they were fabricated to stand the test of time.
So when we break it down to vintage clothing, the quality indisputably prevails those produced by the fast-fashion frenzy.
Additionally, hand-me-down clothing lasts longer because it has already endured a fair few cycles in the washing machine, meaning that any shrinking or fading has already occurred.
You’re helping promote sustainable fashion by reducing the demand for fast fashion.
By hitting up a second-hand store instead of a chainstore retailer, you’re supporting sustainable shopping, and not contributing to the ever-growing problem that is fast fashion.
For those of you who are uninformed regarding the calamity that is fast fashion: there is a chain reaction that’s well concealed by the alluringly cheap price tags.
So what is it, and why is it bad?
Fast fashion brands overstock stores, literally throwing out the leftovers whilst constantly making way for the incoming, ever-changing trends. And they do this every single season.
Clothing production also involves a great deal of water waste and chemical pollution.
There is an estimated 80 billion new pieces of clothing out each year. That’s more than enough to outfit the entire world’s population. Yet, somehow, we have more than 1.89 billion people living in poverty…
A lot of people are under the impression that clothes are discarded easily, but that’s simply not the case. We actually produce more than 14.3 million tons of textile waste per year.
Now, more than ever, is the time to adopt a new mentality and think about the root of the issue.
A major concern of fast fashion is the fact that it is produced in low - middle income countries.
Each day, more than 40 million workers quite literally slave away, enduring the life-threatening, unhealthy conditions of sweatshops.
They’re not even paid a fair wage, and more often than not, there are often children working there too.
So, by heading to the op shop, you’re reducing the demand for slave labour and helping to root for a fair world where all are treated as equals. Kids can be kids, and the lives of those very workers are prioritised over profit. To put it simply:
Consumers are the drivers for change. Cherry-pick yourself a sustainable wardrobe to flaunt!
Luckily, in this day and age, there are second-hand stores on next to every corner.
However, if you do so happen to reside in a region that’s short of second-hand hot spots, there are a handful of online thrift stores that are worth checking out.
Furthermore, if you’re intrigued by the idea of marketing off a multitude of your more-mature gear, be sure to hit up the following:
‘‘One man’s trash in another man’s treasure.’’
So what are you waiting for? Get down to your local thrift-store today.
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