A few years ago, I would have never considered buying second-hand products. Cars, furniture, and certainly not clothing. I always thought of second-hand as damaged. After all, why would someone get rid of it unless something was wrong with it?
My opinion about used products started changing after I had my daughter. Dear Lord, kids grow like weeds and mine was no different. I was fortunate to inherit a bunch of baby clothes and baby gear from my sister-in-law. Almost everything was in perfect condition, probably only worn a few times before their kids outgrew them. Some still had tags on them and were never worn at all.
It begged the question though. Why did I have such a negative bias towards buying used clothing for myself?
Considering the environmental and social impact of fast fashion, it forced me to pause. Much of being a conscious consumer is about stopping and thinking about the choices we make. In this case, what is the difference between new and second-hand clothes exactly? For me, I guess it was my own pride and bias that stopped me from considering second-hand clothes.
What really turned me around on second-hand clothing is thredUP. They have a great variety luxury and mainstream brands. They vet the clothes beforehand and specify each item’s condition in the item description. Every item I purchased from thredUP has been in perfect condition. Plus, they do a good job of creating an online shopping experience that is on par with other e-commerce sites. You barely know you’re shopping for second-hand clothes!
Plus, I got some great deals!
I love finding second acts for items that would otherwise end up in the trash. thredUP has been a great place to find second-hand clothes in excellent condition. While I could have spent more money on a brand new item, I feel pretty satisfied with saving money and prolonging the usefulness of an item by giving it a new home.
For more ways to support sustainable fashion, be sure to check out Shop Social Good’s Apparel & Footwear directory and Recycle/Upcycle directory!