In my year long ban on buying any fast fashion I learnt a lot about buying second hand clothes and I now like to think of myself as a bit of a pro. It’s still my go to for getting clothing, whether for me or the kids. Not only have I saved loads of money, I also have a wardrobe full of better quality clothes.
I often get questions over on my Instagram asking where I buy my second hand fashion from and how I manage to find quality items. So I thought I would start a little series on here. Detailing exactly where I look for second hand fashion and how I have created my second hand wardrobe. Also to help dispell any myths and stigma surrounding buying second hand. It doesn’t all smell like old granny clothes.
THE BENEFITS OF SHOPPING SECOND HAND?
Shopping for second hand fashion (and any other items) is a great way to reduce your impact while still enjoying shopping and style.
There are so many benefits of buying second hand fashion and here are some of them;
- You save money on items that would cost more new
- You are reducing the demand for cheap and unethical labour
- You reduce the quantity of clothes going to landfill
- You help to extend the lifecycle of fashion items
- You are helping to lower the creation of carbon emissions by not buying new clothes
- If you buy from Charity shops they are benefiting from your money
- You can with a little searching discover high-end fashion pieces at an affordable price
Where to buy second hand fashion in the UK
There is a huge amount of places to look at when buying second hand fashion. Not only do you have your local town charity shops, but all of these places listed below are accessible online.
ASOS Vintage: Discover Vintage Boutiques as ASOS Marketplace. Here you can find clothing from all your favourite eras.
Beyond Retro: One of my favourite thrift store chains. Beyond Retro has online as well as physical shops in London, Brighton and Bristol.
Depop: Downloadable as an app Depop has a huge range of second hand clothing for all styles.
eBay: The world’s number one auction site. This is the place I have been the most successful with sourcing second hand fashion. One of my tips it to routinely search your favourite brands on the site every few weeks.
Etsy: I think of Etsy for its boutique sellers and handmade items. But is it also a great place to go for second-hand and vintage finds!
Farfetch: In Farfetch’s pre-owned section you can search fr designer pieces at relatively affordable prices.
Open for Vintage: Another recent find. Here you can shop from luxury second hand and vintage boutiques all over the world.
Oxfam’s Online Shop: Oxfam isn’t just in your local town, it’s also online too. Check it out!
Rokit Vintage: Rokit sells vintage, designer & branded clothing.
Vestiaire Collective: Another place to look for vintage and second hand luxury.
Vinted: A community based app where you can buy and sell pre loved clothing.