More of us than ever are becoming alert to the impact that fast fashion has on both people and planet and are keen to be a part of the solution.
Releasing 1.2 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually, the textile industry is the second most polluting industry in the world, so making our fashion purchases count, truly matters.
After making great use of what we already have in our wardrobes and repairing garments, shopping secondhand is the best way to help our clothes go further. These top tips for shopping for affordable secondhand fashion online will help.
Review your existing wardrobe
A 2018 survey by Weight Watchers has estimated that shoppers in the UK own £10bn worth of clothes they do not wear. That’s on average around £200 per person; a lot of money that could have been spent on other things and a lot of garments that deserve an airing and an outing.
Not everyone who considers a garment that’s been worn a couple of times to be old. Often there are good reasons for no longer wearing something, from changing size to lack of occasion (our lockdown wardrobes became even more limited as we stayed indoors and donned the sofa-wear instead), so making use of the secondhand market is not only a great way to pass on items you no longer need, but also to discover someone else’s perfect-for-you treasures.
Have a good delve through your existing wardrobe first and revive items you already have. Mending or even ironing can restore an item’s beauty easily, while helping you not to duplicate any purchases with your next shop.
Make Marie Kondo proud
You don’t have to ditch every garment that’s fallen out of regular use and doesn’t ‘spark joy’, after all, some items are purely practical, weather or occasion-specific. But what the famous organising consultant would like to see is a rigorous sort-out so you know exactly which items are in every cupboard and drawer.
It’s amazing how much hidden value there already is in a wardrobe, but it’s also a great way to find out whether you do need to add to it. How many winter coats do you already have? The same with bags and shoes. Often sorting through these and donating your excess to charity can be a great place to start.
Identify gaps and duplications
Organise your clothes into seasonal wear. If you are heading off on holiday and lack the pair of shorts you need, then if your garments are organised into seasons you won’t miss a pair bought last summer that’s hiding under a pile of knits.
Fashion is keen to re-sell the same fashion staples like a denim jacket in new incarnations every year, so check what you already have. Minor nuances in style between seasons shouldn’t prevent a garment coming back into regular use.
Check your size
The size we were last time we shopped and the size we are now can be at odds, and you will want to limit the times you return an item because it is the wrong fit.
Sizes tend to vary according to brand, and sometimes differing quite radically across labels, which isn’t helpful. Our eBay listings are details and accurate in how they list garments, while most of our shops offer a changing room for you to try garments on.
Set a budget
Shopping secondhand is the most sustainable way to shop. It is also an affordable option not only on the high street but online too. We have outlined how we price our online garments previously so you can see how we select the best quality garments for online resale, which gives you confidence to shop. Although secondhand is much more affordable than new, it is always helpful to set a budget. The ‘haul’ culture promoted by social influencers – even with secondhand clothing – is not one that is helpful to tackling textile waste.
Share your fantastic find!
We love it when customers share shots of their purchases with #FoundAtDAAT and tag us in their social media posts. It’s always great to see how garments are assembled into outfits by our fantastic supporters. Not only does it help other shoppers to find us but it shows off your support for a local lifesaving charity.
Don’t forget to tag us in your Devon Air Ambulance high street ship and eBay purchases!
