As Op-shops and online vintage stores pop up all over the net, it has never been easier to buy used clothes. This new wave of convenience has attracted a new generation of second-hand shoppers.
ThredUp’s 2019 Fashion Report found that Millennials are known for their fashion waste but they are also known for eco-conscious habits as well. The study found that “77 per cent of millennials want to buy from environmentally-conscious brands” and are “more likely to switch to thrifting for environmental reasons”.
In our digital world, many of us are searching for things that make us individual and separate us from the basic ‘copy and paste’ couture online. Thrifting could be the answer, that is buying second hand on the cheap (and maybe adding your creative twist to it).
Second-hand clothing adds interest to a wardrobe, offering some very funky pieces that the vast majority of people won’t have, and for a great price. It’s also good for the environment to save used clothes from landfill and decrease the demand for the production of new garments.
Newcastle based artist Nicola Gao Aka (Messyhands) seconds this, saying she loves thrifting because it’s not wasteful. Nicola goes on,
“We sometimes get into a habit of being wasteful and I like the idea of wearing something till it’s on its last leg … as an artist I like to push myself and fabric was a medium I had never done before”.
She says that painting on her thrifted denim jacket was “a nice was to personalise a piece of clothing” and that “there’s something really cool about wearing art on the body”.
With the introduction of apps like Depop, Grailed and Poshmark, it’s never been easier to re-vamp our wardrobes. Whilst thrifting has always been around, with the digital revolution and the increasing popularity of home shopping, it’s become more visible. With the aid of social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest, everything is now at our fingertips. Thrifting allows us to try new trends and fashion styles without hurting the bank or the ecosystem, and the possibilities are endless. If this is a brave new world for you never fear, I’m here to help get you on your way.
My simple guide to thrifting:
- Have an idea of what you want
- Browse different shops or websites
- Go section by section or scroll page by page
- Look at absolutely everything for those hidden gems
- Get creative – think about what you could alter or re-use or how you could re-design it
- Even if it’s too big or too small you can always re-use or alter it
- Don’t be scared, try something weird
- Have fun with it
Ok, so now you’ve bought an entire rack home from the thrift store / your huge packages have arrived. You’ve tried on those amazing denim jeans but -crapola- they’re a size too big. You then look at the jumper you just bought and it’s got a hole on the back of it. That classic crisp white linin short? It’s missing a button. Don’t panic! It’s easily fixed. There are plenty of videos that can teach you how to quickly fix these problems, you can even sign up for community classes. Here are some quick tips to turn small fashion fauxs into big fashion wins.
Top tailoring tips to fix and re-use clothes:
- To tailor or hem clothes, wear the clothes inside out while pinning
- Give your creations a run over with an iron to iron out any imperfections and make them look less “homemade”.
- Any where is a great place to get little mending jobs done
- You don’t need a big fancy sewing machine, sometimes a simple needle and thread works better
- Always pick a thread that’s a few shades lighter than your fabric
- Practise your skills on cheaper pieces and work your way up as you get more confident
- Get creative: add some paint, buttons or different fabrics
In our digital world, many of us are searching for things that make us individual and separate us from the basic copy and paste culture online. Thrifting and re-using could be the answer us millennials have been looking for. Who knows we might even see a new fashion trend.
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