Last September, over on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, I shared daily videos of me sporting second-hand clothing in outfits. I am not doing it this year, but those posts are still up to enjoy and be inspired.
6 Reasons I Love Second-hand Clothes
The benefits and importance of shopping second-hand, swapping, and hand-me-downs go beyond ecology.
- Cost Effective. Almost always below original retail price. Second-hand clothes are often significantly cheaper than new clothes, making them a great option for those on a budget.
- Ecological. Fewer clothes in landfills and reducing demands on energy resources and exploited garment workers. Choosing to buy second-hand clothes is a more sustainable option, as it reduces the demand for new clothes to be made, which can have a negative impact on the environment.
- Beyond Current Trends. Greater variety than in high street stores at any given time. This helps you address your own personal style. Shopping for second-hand clothes can often lead to discovering unique and one-of-a-kind items that you wouldn’t find in a typical retail store.
- Established Quality. Many second-hand clothes are made from higher-quality materials than fast-fashion items, which can make them last longer. If something has made it to a second-hand store or reseller, it has already been on a rack or even a person so any wear and tear would likely already show. This includes fading and shrinkage.
- Can Be Customised. Second-hand items are no more perfect than new items, but with the reduced cost
- Sentimental. Second-hand clothes often have a story behind them, which can add a special meaning to the item.
Why Sustainable Doesn’t Always Mean Second-hand Shopping
I’ll admit, my heart wasn’t in it to post daily TikToks or Reels for #SecondhandSeptember. Partially because I’m still working through grief and approaching the first anniversary without my mother. But also because as much as I love second-hand clothes, I do not want to encourage anyone to go out buying things they don’t need.
Aja Barber explains it best when describing what a sustainable wardrobe looks like to her, “It looks like a mixture of things. It’s not buying all the sustainable brands and replacing everything you have with sustainable brands. It’s wearing what you already have and when you need something new going with a more ethical and sustainable option or second hand.” Please go to her Instagram post or her Patreon to read her explanation in detail and support her work.
Her words have stuck with me. I’ve ruminated about excessiveness and materials, but also about sourcing and ethics. Paul Newman was quoted as saying ‘You can only put away so much stuff in your closet.’ in the context of philanthropy and giving back. It’s true. How much do we need to consume?
For me, I have A LOT of clothes. I was the same size from age 12–16, then the same size from age 16–25, then the joys of PCOS kept me guessing and I started sorting my clothes by the weight I needed to be for them to fit. But I vacuum packed them all and kept them stored safely. Occasionally, I’d give something to a friend. My mom often would give things away from my closet. I mean, I had enough to share clearly. Fast forward to when I moved to Ireland and donated 90% of my clothes to thrift stores in California. It hurt. I missed pieces for a long time. I only kept what I couldn’t afford to replace or what was my absolute favorite. Slowly, I accumulated more clothes in Ireland through new, pre-loved, and swap shopping. Then I did two or three wardrobe declutters with weight changes or new baby things needing space in my closet. Each time, I’d deliver bags to a local charity shop and though I was deliberate to only include nice, clean, good condition clothing I’d hear about how they had bags of things that weren’t suitable to wear and the volunteers spent hours sorting them in a back room. Where did the discarded things go? It varied by shop, but it was clear that charity shops are often seen as an easy way to dump things without guilt. ‘Ah sure, someone will love this.’
Then my parents died and I found out that all those carefully vacuum-packed bags of clothes were in their basement! I sorted through a lot of it and donated many things, including 117 tee shirts and some shorts & sneakers to SOME’s youth programs. Every charity fun run I ever did had a tee shirt! I didn’t need them all, I kept two for sentimentality. I brought the rest back to Ireland and started sifting through what should have just been clothing, but it was memories. I’m still sorting through all those. Now, with an abundance of clothes bought back when my budget didn’t have to consider two kids, it is nice to wear some old favourites once more.
When I thought about what I am wearing and how to do Secondhand September videos again this year, I realized I wear about 30% secondhand items, 50% things I bought new over 5 years ago, and 20% things I’ve bought new in the last 5 years. I actually think 20% is being generous. So, I didn’t know how to film that and having to list every item and brand and when I got it took A LOT of time last year. Maybe I’ll do #OldClothesOctober or #NovMender (in which I wear things I’ve mended instead of replaced) or #DimeDecember (outfits that when you calculate cost per wear are under $0.10). But, for now, I am pacing my energy and time, while also being deliberate about what I bring into my wardrobe.
What about you? Do you also love second-hand clothes?