A change in attitude combined with the cost of living crisis means sustainable fashion is now more popular than ever before.
And with sites like Vinted, Depop, eBay and Facebook Marketplace available, there’s a plethora of choice when it comes to finding second-hand clothing at affordable prices.
Mum-of-two Lisa Johnson, from Wilmslow, prides herself on being a second-hand fan – mostly always shopping pre-loved for herself and her children.
The 49-year-old started shopping sustainably after becoming involved in climate change activism around for years ago – now saving around £1,000 a year just by opting for pre-owned fashion instead of buying new.
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“Being involved in climate change activism, one of the first things you learn is that fashion industry is one of the most environmentally damaging,” she told the Manchester Evening News.
“I’ve never really changed size that much; I’ve always stayed the same size. So I thought, ‘Do we need to keep buying new?’
“Obviously if you have a growing child, you need to buy things for them. As an adult, can you not just look in your wardrobe, see what you have and switch it up with a bit of nice jewellery?”
Lisa, a clinical aromatherapist who owns her own hand-made skincare line, LJ Natural, says she has also made money by selling items on Vinted, a second-hand clothing app.
“It’s brilliant,” she added. “You can go and search for a green cardigan and get one someone else doesn’t want anymore for £2.
“When you sell, it all adds up, so you have credit in your account and you don’t need to spend money on clothes at all. That’s what I’ve been doing.”
Lisa also regularly finds hidden gems at charity shops around Wilmslow, describing her trips out as an “absolutely brilliant” way to spend a Saturday afternoon – as well as a good way to give to charity.
Cancer Research UK shops recorded a 13.1 per cent rise in sales between April and November 2022, new data has revealed. During this period, the charity saw its highest quarterly sales figures on record.
The British Heart Foundation experienced its "biggest ever sales week" at the end of December 2022 while Barnardo’s and Age UK also reported a rise in revenue.
And while the rising cost of living may have influenced the increase, other factors could include consumers becoming more eco-conscious.
On average, a British person spends around £1,042 on clothes and shoes every year, working out to as roughly £86 a month. But those who buy second hand are estimated to be saving up to around 25 per cent per item, according to research conducted by Depop.
“I’m not judging people who need to buy new at all,” Lisa continued. “It’s just for my lifestyle. My kids are 13 and 15 and they aren’t interested in new clothes either. They’re happy to look in charity shops with me and get second-hand stuff. Their school has a second-hand uniform shop too.”
We buy more clothes per person in the UK than any country in Europe, according to Greenpeace. Around 300,000 tonnes of used clothes are burned or buried in landfill each year.
Lots of the incinerated clothing has never even been sold or worn, often with retailers or manufacturers disposing of unsold stock in the most cost-effective way possible. Polyester clothing, much like single-use plastics, takes 200 years to decompose.
“When you do find something you like [from the charity shop], it’s just so lovely,” Lisa added. “I never look like other people because I’m wearing something unique.”
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