Buying vintage is one of the best ways to find affordable sustainable clothing. Shopping sustainable can get expensive. Clothes that are made with eco-friendly fibers or made by workers that are treated fairly and paid a living wage tend to cost more because you’re paying for the ethical practices of the company. While these companies are important to support, buying exclusively sustainable clothing is fairly unrealistic for those on a budget. That is why I buy vintage/secondhand clothing.
Buying vintage is inherently sustainable because the labor and resources that would go into a brand new garment are no longer being used. Reusing clothing and fabric reduces the pollutants, resources (water, chemicals, animal products, etc.), and labor that goes into producing each garment. Shopping secondhand is not only great for your wallet, but it also allows you to find completely unique items to add to your wardrobe. It takes a little more time and patience to sort through huge amounts of vintage clothing, but in the end it’s worth it. If you’re new to secondhand shopping or think it’s a little overwhelming, there are plenty of shops that make it super easy (including ones you probably shop at on a regular basis)! I’ll leave a list of some of my favorite vintage shops below. I would recommend starting with some denim because Levi’s are better with a few holes in them anyway!
Urban Renewal (Urban Outfitters)
After Party + Vintage (Nasty Gal)
Farfetch (luxury/designer)
What Goes Around NYC (luxury/designer)
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