Why Buy Second Hand In 2023?

If you weren’t already aware, the fashion industry actually plays a huge part in pollution and environmental damage. As the world grows and educates, people are starting to see the benefits and positive impacts that shopping second hand can create, not just for us, but for the environment too. In this blog, we’re going to be taking a look at why the fashion industry can be so harmful, and then we will be discussing some great reasons why we should be buying second hand in 2023.

First things first, what is the problem here?

Just because we don’t SEE harm happening in real time infront of our eyes, it doesn’t mean it's not there. Our planet is getting crushed by ‘fast fashion’, highstreet shops produce cheap, fashionable clothing to satisfy their consumer base. This type of fast fashion has three main environmental impacts:

Water

The fashion industry is officially the second largest consumer of water, in fact, some studies suggest that it takes approximately 2,700 litres of water to produce just one cotton t-shirt. Textile dying is also an issue here, as when the dye gets dumped into rivers, streams etc, it pollutes the water.

Energy

Making garments is no doubt an intensive manufacturing process, which in turn, requires large amounts of resources. Fast fashion garments are often made from synthetic textiles, such as polyester and nylon; these fibres are derived from petroleum, which is a non-renewable resource.

Waste

Nor only are the fibres we just mentioned from a non-renewable source, but they also take hundreds of years to biodegrade. It is estimated that 35% of all microplastics – tiny pieces of non-biodegradable plastic – in the ocean come from the laundering of synthetic textiles like polyester. (source: 2017 report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)). Many clothing garments get thrown away in landfill, some even after just a few wears!

So, after hearing all of this, what should we do about it?

One of the best options to sway away from fast fashion is to start shopping preloved, thrifted, second hand etc. Shopping preloved isn’t just beneficial for yourself, but it's great for our planet too. Here’s our favourite reasons to shop second hand:

Sooooo affordable - Fashion doesn’t always have to be expensive you know! The last time I went to a preloved clothing event, I got 2 Shirts, 1 Handbag, and 1 Sweatshirt, and they all added up to just £4?! Nothing better than saving money!

Stylish and fashionable - Many trends actually come back into style years later, so thrifting can be a great way to get your hands on some new bits and bobs. Vintage jumpers are my personal favourite!

Unique - At most preloved events, there are no two garments the same. When you shop in a popular high street store, you probably see many people wearing the same coat, same top, same shoes, but not when you shop second hand! Be yourself, be unique!

Keeps clothing in circulation - As we mentioned before, so much clothing ends up wasted and dumped at landfill sites. To prevent this, let’s keep passing on our garments again and again and again, keep them going!

It’s easy - As preloved clothing has gained more popularity, it has become increasingly easier to shop for it. Thrifted clothing can not only be found in shops, but now online too, websites like Depop, and Vinted allow users to sell their old clothes to new owners, it's such a great idea.

We hope this blog has given you some inspiration and helped you gain some insight into sustainable fashion. Why not try it out this weekend? Go to a preloved event with a friend, family member or loved one. We’d love to see some photos! Tag us and let us know what you got up to.

REMINDER: if you want to become even more sustainable, shop our eco friendly, biodegradable products here.

Thanks for reading

-Solutions 4 Plastic Team