Switching to sustainable shopping habits can often seem like a pipe dream. High street shops mislead us with greenwashing, and sustainable fashion brands often have unattainable price points. It may seem like there are no alternatives, but there is a solution that offers genuine sustainable fashion at an affordable price point: second-hand and vintage clothing!
The second-hand industry has come a long way. Gone are the days where you need to spend hours scouring charity shops in hopes of finding something nice. Stylish vintage and second-hand clothes are now abundant and at your fingertips thanks to convenient apps and e-commerce stores. Not sure where to start? Below we’ll be sharing exactly why and how you can get into the vintage and second-hand clothing markets.
Why Someone New To Sustainable Fashion Should Get Into Selling & Reselling
Shopping second-hand is arguably the best way to practice sustainable fashion.
Even if sustainable fashion brands use natural fabrics or low-energy production methods, they’re still using resources to create new clothing. On the other hand, second-hand clothing already exists so it has a much smaller carbon footprint. You’ll also be diverting clothing from the landfill so it’s truly a win-win.
Consumer shopping patterns are changing rapidly. More and more people are becoming conscious about where their clothing comes from, which means that the vintage and second-hand markets are growing faster than ever. Shoppers have more options, and those that want to try their hand at selling may find it a lucrative venture.
Despite being the better option, irresponsibly following trends by shopping second-hand runs the risk of doing similar damage to the fast fashion industry.
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Finally, second-hand shopping is an easy way to authentically replicate current trends. Despite being the better option, following trends by shopping second-hand runs the risk of doing similar damage to the fast fashion industry. If done responsibly then second-hand is easily the better option. Fashion is cyclical, and we often see looks from the past cropping up in contemporary collections. Rather than wearing a vintage-inspired fast fashion pieces, why not wear a genuine 90s slip dress or Y2K flares?
How To Ethically Get Rid Of Unwanted Clothing
One of the most sustainable things you can do is hold on to your clothes for as long as possible, but eventually we’ll end up saying goodbye to certain pieces. Maybe they don’t fit in with our style or our bodies anymore, or maybe you’re simply trying to declutter your wardrobe.
Rather than trying to make your unwanted clothing dissapear, why not try your hand at reselling? It’s a much better alternative to throwing out or even recycling old clothes, since not all clothing can actually be recycled.
Reselling ensures the clothing will be bought by people who will prolong their life cycles by giving them a bit more love for longer. You’ll also make some money from it, which is never a bad thing!
Reselling is easier than ever. All you really need is your phone for an internet connection and camera. Simply sign up to the reselling platform of your choice, create a profile, and begin uploading pictures of your clothing. You can learn some tips and tricks for optimising your sellers’ page here.
Where To Source Clothing For Resale
Sourcing stock for your store is also easy. Just look in your own closet! If you want to make reselling a side hustle rather than a hobby, you can also source vintage clothes from charity shops, estate sales, car boot sales, local buy and sell sites (Facebook marketplace), or auctions.
If you’re interested in stepping up your sustainable fashion game by reselling and shopping vintage fashion, we recommend creating an account with FLUF. Selling on our platform is completely free, and comes with an established community of second-hand and vintage clothing lovers. We’re always here to help if you have any questions, so please feel free to reach out with any questions!