Sustainable Style: Buying Used

Since I decided to switch to only buying sustainable clothing, I’ve been shopping a lot at used clothing stores. We have one called Plato’s Closet and I always find super great deals.

Buying used clothing is a great way to start getting into sustainable clothing. If you buy a used piece of clothing, it helps reduce that garments impact on the environment by giving it most use than if that garment had just been thrown away. It’s also more sustainable to sell or donate your clothes than just throwing them away. And if your item isn’t in good enough condition to donate, you can take it to a place to be recycled. Where I live, we have bins that you can drop textiles off to be recycled.

While buying used is generally more sustainable than purchasing new, there are some things to be aware of. Whether you’re buying new or used, try to avoid synthetic materials. Materials like polyester, nylon, acrylic, and other synthetic materials are causing other environmental issues. You can learn more about microfibers here.

Another fabric I always avoid is rayon. I don’t know what it is about me and rayon, but we don’t get along. To avoid the environmental impact of dry-cleaning, I was all my clothes at home. But I always seem to shrink rayon. This is a problem, because then I can’t wear it and I can’t donate it, so it has to be thrown out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laura’s wearing: Shirt/Alternative Apparel, Jeans/Plato’s Closet, Shoes/Plato’s Closet (Betsey Johnson), Glass Cup/Goodwill. 

uying used clothing is an easy way to start getting into sustainable fashion. Find local secondhand stores or go thrift shopping. You can also find a lot online at places like eBay or on apps like Poshmark and Vinted. Reducing the amount of new materials is a step in the right direction, but remember to be aware of plastic and synthetic materials. Look for cotton, linen, and wool at secondhand stores instead!

Do you have a favorite place to buy used clothing? Share it with me in the comments! xo. Laura