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I’ve always worn second-hand clothes.
In the beginning, it was because new clothes were too expensive.
But as time went on, I became obsessed.
The thrill of discovering unique pieces in thrift stores became so appealing that I started preferring them over brand-new options.
By 2019, it just felt right to exclusively choose second-hand.
But, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing.
Like any new relationship, there was a honeymoon phase.
Mine started when I first discovered large second-hand shops in Poland.
I fell in love with the rows and rows of clothing from different eras, styles, and fabrics.
As you can imagine, I went there whenever I wanted and bought as much as I could afford.
It felt like heaven.
But, of course, as relationships start to mature, the cracks appear.
I started to wonder why there seemed to be billions of these clothes available and the fate of those left unsold.
One question led to another and what I found was shocking.
Read in 10 minutes or less.
- The good.
- The bad.
- The ugly.
- What you can do about it.
The Good
Sustainability.
The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of carbon emissions— more than international flights and maritime shipping combined.
I think many of us who want a more sustainable world agree that it will always be more sustainable to avoid producing anything new, especially considering the number of clothes already in circulation.
Wearing second-hand helps you reduce your carbon footprint, minimize waste, and preserve natural resources and habitats.
You’re saving these clothes from landfill and helping to keep fashion circular in an affordable way—one that has little barrier to entry and doesn’t discriminate based on the size of your bank account.
So, it’s little wonder that the global secondhand market is expected to nearly double by 2027, reaching $350 billion, with online platforms making it even easier to buy and sell.
We’re on the cusp of a revolution, where it’s becoming a lifestyle rather than a trend, and this makes me very happy.
A Good Eye For High Quality Clothes.
Who doesn’t want nice clothes?
Those that are made to last age like fine wine and shopping second-hand trains your eyes to spot them from a mile away.
This is especially true for vintage clothing, which often comes from a time when natural materials were more common (yay, plastic-free clothes), and when people made clothes well, as opposed to the low-quality plastic materials we are bombarded with today.
So many incredible pieces with interesting histories are out there and they can help you develop your own personal style.
The one that lets you stop looking like a copy paste of whatever the stores in the mall decide is trendy.
It’s a cool superpower to have not only for your wardrobe but also for bragging rights.
What’s not to love so far about secondhand fashion?
The Bad
Stigma.
In my early teenage years, I never told people my clothes were second-hand.
I didn’t want them to think I was too poor to afford new clothes, which was ironic because I actually couldn’t!
When you grow up with this mindset, new clothes take on a different meaning.
They become symbols of status and a way to boost self-esteem, showing everyone that you have ‘made it’.
Thankfully, teenagers nowadays have embraced wearing second-hand.
But back when I was their age, there was a lot of social pressure to wear certain new brands or styles.
It takes great strength to go against the grain as a teenager, and I think it might be even harder to do so in adulthood.
Here are other reasons why people stigmatize second-hand clothes.
“Wearing used clothes is unhygienic – who knows where they’ve been before?”
“Second-hand clothes? No thanks, they’re probably all out-of-date and unfashionable.”
“I heard that second-hand clothes are always in poor condition and don’t last long.”
“My friends will laugh at me if they find out my outfit is from a thrift store.”
“I don’t want to wear someone else’s cast-offs – it feels like I’m settling for leftovers.”
“I’m worried about getting weird smells or stains on second-hand clothes.”
“Second-hand shops only have old, worn-out stuff – nothing trendy or stylish.”
“Wearing second-hand clothes just doesn’t feel right – it’s like wearing a stranger’s life.”
Of course I have responses to these thoughts!
But you really dont want me to get on my soapbox just yet.
I’ll do us both a favour and leave it for another day.
The Ugly
Clothing donations.
Now that I have enough money to afford new clothes, I’ll buy as much as I like and when I get bored, I can donate them to someone who needs them.
Me, 8 years ago.
Win-win, right?
Unfortunately, not.
Charity shops and online platforms are overflowing with clothes.
But there isn’t enough demand for them, so much of it ends up being sold to large textile companies to extend their lifespan.
They are sorted into different grades according to quality, most of which, in my personal experience, don’t live up to expectations.
The higher quality clothes (Grade A and B) often get recirculated in the Global North, where people can afford to buy and resell them.
But the lower grade, (Grade C, D, or Africa grade!) ends up being imported into developing countries.
One of those countries is Ghana, which has the largest secondhand market in West Africa.
Resellers find these clothes much harder to sell as no one wants stained, ripped, or poor quality fast fashion clothes made of cheap, synthetic blends.
Can you blame them?
We like to think that ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure,’ but in this case, your trash is still another man’s trash.
Ghana’s waste systems can’t handle all these clothes, with about 40% ending up in landfills.
There, they sometimes burst into flames, burning for months on end, and releasing even more greenhouse gases.
Why on earth do we keep overproducing and overconsuming?
Well, it’s complicated.
Unfortunately, people still want things fast, easy, and cheap, and as long as there is demand, there will always be a market exploiting and catering to them.
But . . .
People are becoming more aware of how fashion impacts the environment.
As this trend continues to rise and we push for systemic regulation, the companies responsible for this mess will, hopefully, soon realize that they can’t get away with producing planet-destroying, low-quality clothes.
Here’s What You Can Do Meanwhile.
- Buy fewer clothes.
- Buy second-hand as much as possible.
- Wear them until they fall apart.
- If you have to buy new, choose high-quality items that last long and are more likely to find a second life!
- Use clothing psychology to find joy and confidence in the clothes you wear so you don’t feel the need to buy more. (I’ll be writing more about this.)
- Before donating, think about extending your clothes’ lifespan.
- Have a clothing swap, or pass them on to friends or family.
- Take clothes that are not in good condition to the recycling center.
- Wash and mend before donating so they are in good condition and likely to be used by someone else.
- Donate them preferably to local organizations that directly benefit the community or specific groups in need.
The end.
What did you think about today’s newsletter? Click reply to let me know!
And please don’t forward this to your friends. 😉
See you next week,
-Yosi
