Buying Pre-loved, Planet Friendly Fashion
If you’re a regular reader of our blog posts and familiar with our brand, you’ll be well aware of our love for sustainable fashion in its many forms. This month we wanted to shine a spotlight on how second-hand clothing can be a pocket-friendly and guilt free way to update your wardrobe.
Why shop second hand?
In the United States alone, over 15 million tons of used textile waste is generated each year! But research has shown that of all used clothing, almost half can be re-used as apparel! So why aren’t we buying more of our clothes second hand? Re-using unwanted clothing not only reduces landfill waste, carbon emissions and water usage, but it can also save us money. Many retailers of second-hand clothes are also connected to charitable organisations, meaning that when you shop pre-loved, you also give back to vulnerable communities. Seems like a no-brainer!
With online shops at our finger-tips and the fashion industry slowly becoming more environmentally conscious, there has never been a better time to embrace second-hand clothing. To inspire you, we’ve rounded up some of the best places to shop for beautiful, pre-loved garments.
Based in the UAE, Retold say they give clothes a second chance at happiness. From accessories to active wear, to designer and vintage pieces, you can find pretty much any category of clothing for sale on the Retold website. You can also check out their selection in-person at the Retold boutique in Dubai where they host community events throughout the year.
Retold is not only a great place to visit when you want to add something new to your wardrobe, it’s also a brilliant platform to consider if you’d like to sell your clothing. Whether you have designer or high street items to pass on, you could potentially get some cash back to invest in your next purchase by selling with Retold.
Founded in 2011, The Luxury Closet is another Dubai-based second-hand retailer where you can find an array of new and used wardrobe items and accessories. Featured in the likes of Elle, Ahlan! and Time Out, The Luxury Closet has built a reputation for selling unique designer pieces with authenticity guaranteed.
You don’t need to be in the UAE to shop with The Luxury Closet either, they offer worldwide shipping so you can browse from wherever you may be.
If you have luxury items to sell, you can also submit your pieces to The Luxury Closet for sale on their site.
Fashion Rerun has sustainability and affordability at its core, stating that they aim to ‘give back to the planet and Mother Nature’ with their second-hand clothing website. With less focus on luxury items, Fashion Rerun offers essential clothing for all the family from many popular high street brands.
Based in Dubai, they also offer worldwide shipping so you can snap up bargains locally or internationally. We love their mantra of ‘restyle, relove, rerun’, encouraging customers to join them in their bid to have a positive impact on the environment.
Other options…
Besides online thrift stores, you can typically find second-hand clothing available to buy at flea markets, in charity stores, on social media groups, auction sites and directly from individuals.
This year, why not start considering pre-loved options as a normal part of your clothes buying process? Or perhaps you’re already on board with the idea and have snapped up some amazing second-hand garments already. If so, we’d love to know what your best buys have been!
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