Fashion Pieces You Should Buy Second-Hand

by: Michelle Diaz

The fast fashion cycle has caused a lot of damage to our planet and vulnerable populations. Fashion companies that prioritize keeping up with every trend and putting out different items every week create wastefulness and exploitative work practices.

The problem with fast fashion in a nutshell: when new pieces are created every week by fashion companies despite their current, unsold inventory, companies generate a lot of greenhouse gasses and use massive amounts of water and energy.

To maintain the constant production of new clothing, they outsource the production of clothing to poverty-stricken countries. Companies are able to pay them extremely low wages for their extreme work hours.

Sustainable brands usually have a higher price point. Their ethical compass prevents them from using exploitative production means, and therefore more expensive models of production come into play. If you’re strapped for cash, don’t turn to fast fashion. Instead, consider buying secondhand!

Statement Pieces

In general, a secondhand shop is a perfect place to find statement pieces because nothing makes you stand out quite like a vintage or one-of-akind piece. An option for statement pieces are vintage or one-of-a-kind clothing items, such as vintage dresses, coats, or jackets. These pieces can be great conversation starters and add a unique touch to your wardrobe. When shopping secondhand, be on the lookout for quality fabrics and unique details, such as beading, embroidery, or intricate patterns.

LEATHER JACKETS/COATS

Although the aspect of the leather jacket might not align with your ethics or your budget, there are many leather jackets and coats that have been made to last years and are currently sitting in a thrift store waiting to live a whole, new life. Especially if you live in a climate where the colder season doesn’t last very long, buying a brand new leather jacket might not be worth it for a few outfits.

Check your local Goodwill or small business thrift store for a leather jacket or coat. If you can’t find your style in the women’s section, check out the men’s section, and vice versa.

Denim Jeans

I imagine most people on the planet have a pair of jeans; a good pair is a staple item. Unfortunately, denim jeans are one of the least eco-friendly clothing items to produce due to the many chemicals and massive amounts of energy and water used to process the material. With the vast amount of styles in denim jeans, consumers will continue to purchase them brandnew. Don’t follow the hoards! You can buy jeans secondhand. Finding an original pair of vintage Levi’s is a big part of what makes thrifting so fun and special. Current denim trends, including mom jeans, bell bottoms, flared jeans, and low-rise jeans, are styles that have been recycled from past decades, so a second-hand store is sure to have a variety of these styles.

Sweatshirts

Sweatshirts are not only a staple piece because they are comfortable, but also because you can find one that’s one of a kind. Just like jeans, finding a vintage sweatshirt with a cool phrase or a concert promotion from the 80s makes the garment so much more special than a brand new, mass-produced sweater. The thick material makes them last for a long time, so there are hundreds of vintage sweatshirts to be found at a thrift store.

The cycle of fast fashion has negatively affected large populations of people and our environment in many ways. Companies’ attempts to cater to every single trend are not worth the strain on garment workers and the Earth.

With a fashion culture that has become dependent on capitalism and the fast fashion cycle, living a life completely independent from these cycles can be difficult to achieve, but certainly not impossible. Luckily, there is an affordable way to avoid fast fashion by shopping secondhand. Just as eating healthier can require transitioning into the lifestyle, contributing to sustainable practices can also be accomplished step-by-step.