10 reasons to incorporate pre-loved items to your wardrobe.
In June, I have been working on my social media platforms on sharing my passion for thrift shopping, and how we can find amazing vintage pieces and incorporate them to our daily wardrobe.
The beauty of thrift shopping is that the preloved items of clothing you are about to buy are from different eras and different trends, and it is up to YOU to make it work.
Although recently around the world, there is a massive trend that entices people to starting thinking differently about how they consume (to limit their negative impact on the environment), thrift shopping has been around for a long time but used to have a negative image attached to it.
So here we go, as a life long thrifter, I am jumping on this trend to tell you my 10 reasons to start incorporating more vintage/pre-loved items in your wardrobe.
1. It is a simple way to go green!
It takes so much water and energy to make new clothes, and nearly as much to dispose them.
I am sure you have heard the motto “reduce, reuse, recycle”, well, thrifting is the ultimate way to live this.
2. It is a creative way to curate a unique Wardrobe!
When you go thrift shopping in stores or online it is like going on a treasure hunt, you never know what you are going to find.
The story begins when you have found the one item that will bring you joy and then you can get creative about thinking what you could wear this top, this pair of shoes, this coat with. It is nothing like a Copy and paste of clothing you see online.
3. it supports the community and local businesses!
Unlike your big retail chains, many thrift stores exist to serve others, not generate a profit for stockholders.
The online second-hand market has exploded offer the last years, and you know that the money you are spending is going to make a difference to these small entrepreneur’s lives.
Choosing to shop at a particular Charity thrift shop driven by a mission you value is thrift store is a wonderful way to make a difference in your community.
4. You can get high quality clothing at a portion of the price!
If you love bargains and sale, which I am sure most of us do , then Thrift shopping is the ideal way to score bargains. For me I always check labels and quality of the products before I make my final decision, even if it is cheap.
5. It can be a fun Up-cycling project
If you love sewing and fixing things then there won’t be shortage of those items ! It also leads you to become more crafty and creative. I am loving this new #stitchitdontditchit new movement where “craftivists”are seating in a row along high streets in Europe, with a sign saying “stitch it, don’t ditch it” pinned to their chairs as they repair and embellish fast fashion items that have seen better days.
Many pieces simply need a little “TLC” to come to life again!
6. It is exciting to wear old clothes as they have memories of their own.
Sometimes, when I wear some vintage clothes, I am imagining where they come from, who was wearing them, where in the world and it is fun to just give new memories to what you wear.
7. It gives a wide selection of styles.
You might not like every item of clothing you find when you thrift shop, but you can at least have fun looking at ostentatious, retro, bold and colourful or just plain bizarre clothing.
8. It allows you to save money on kids clothes.
Kids are growing up so quickly and barely wear out their clothes, so you can find a lot of kids clothing still in excellent condition. I believe it is also a fun thing to do with younger kids, to explain and educate them from a younger age to consume differently.
9. It is not a Mall!
Malls are slowly but surely become my pet hate, especially when it comes to clothes shopping. I do have a feeling that despite all the variety in shops, the clothes on offer are seemingly the same and it is so overwhelming to just go through these shops one after the other.
10. Thrift shops have a constantly changing selection.
As people drop their unwanted clothes on a regular basis at the charity or thrift shops, you can expect to find an ever-changing selection of clothing, so you can pop on a regular basis for a treasure hunt!
These are the main reasons, that even as a Style coach and image consultant, I do recommend that we all embark on this journey of consuming differently.
It is also important to take note that Fast fashion brands have already started to take massive steps towards sustainability.
To give you some examples,H&M group has committed to become 100% circular ( meaning a system in which all products can be reused or fully decomposed) by 2030. Zara Group has committed to 100 percent of cotton, linen and polyester to be sustainable by 2025 by 2023.
In the meantime, as consumers we always have a choice, so let’s keep this in mind when shopping!
To end off , here are my tops tips for a fun thrift shopping session:
- mix and match colors to create a quirky look.
- mix and match eras to make it more interesting.
- don't compromise on quality because those items are cheaper to buy.
- look for quality cotton, linen, velvet, silk so you can get more wear out of your clothes.
- don't be afraid to mix expensive a timeless piece with a cheaper thrift find!
- check lots more style tips on my Instagram on how to elevate your:
I hope this article will inspire you to incorporate preloved items in your wardrobe and to have fun while doing it!
Get in touch if you would like to chat about thrift shopping and how best to make it work for Your Style .
xx