Second Hand Fashion? The Look You Didn’t Know You Needed!
Image from Glam Adelaide Article: Rent a Rack in Adelaide Guide | sustainable fashion
Fast fashion continues to dominate the Australian clothes market. According to the ‘From high fashion to high vis’ 2021 report from the Australian Fashion Council, published on ABC News. Approximately 227,000 tonnes of garments are discarded in Australia each year to landfill. Shockingly, only 7,000 tonnes being recycled correctly.
This figure presents demonstrate a challenge to environmentalist groups, and especially to Australia’s efforts to increase recycling of goods. Most unfortunate, an additional 100,000 tonnes of garments are considered not appropriate to be sold by charity shops are exported overseas, assumed to be dumped within those countries.
For many consumers, they tend to buy the outfits they like within the moment, wear them a few times and lose interest within those outfits. Unfortunately, there is not as much investment in clothes recycling then there is to plastics, leaving many to be discarded and contribute to this problem. I have been guilty of contributing to fast fashion pollution.
The issue of fast fashion pollution cannot be resolved with a singular solution. However, consumers can make efforts to alleviate their own personal consumption of garments, in ways that minimises environmental harm, supports local businesses, and maintains longevity of garments beyond their standard expiry.
For me, I love to go Op shopping!
Once, usually twice a month, I like to visit unique locations across Adelaide, often exploring each nook and cranny to find some of the best and rarest finds. A favourite location of mine (that my retail best friend at my local newsagent has sworn me to secrecy too), had sold a vintage Gucci bag from the 90s, for the low price of $15.
Apart from finding vintage designer goods, you can find many different clothes, most of the time is high condition, that often continue to preserve a higher quality then to most middle and low market clothing items available in stores.
My most recent Op shop trip took me to the suburbs of Unley, and Norwood, both favourites of mind. These suburbs, iconic for their history, architecture, and general vibe had some amazing collections up for sale.
During my hunt, I was able to find some vintage style red Stacy Adams faux crocodile skin shoes (having the most powerful creaking noise). Brown fake leather loafers from a unique Chinese designer brand (yet to confirm completely). Both of these shoes would have been near impossible to find at any clothes store in Adelaide, and both told a rich story, that in my opinion adds an exceptional confidence to your normal daily attire.
Aside from shoes, I was able to come across a forest green Oxford parker jacket, an incredibly warm find, perfect for the upcoming spring weather, an Svelto banana jumper, that was giving Milan Fashion Week androgynous energy.
Op shopping, or colloquially known as vintage shopping (a much chicer title in my opinion), is fast growing submarket, popularised by many of Gen Z, who are searching for affordable, environmentally friendly clothes to introduce to their wardrobes.
The search term #vintageshopping garners close to 200 million views on TikTok and sees many sub communities from different locations across the world share the latest in places, tips and tricks, or fits users have found.
While providing economic benefits to consumers, especially during the current cost of living crisis, it allows many clothes that may have been tossed out, to instead join a circular economy. It allows clothes to maintain their economic value following their use and continue to pass it along to other members of society.
Figures are difficult to gather on the success of the second-hand fashion market, however, sales data from online platforms suggests it will double to $102 billion by 2027, matching the size of the fast fashion industry.
So why not give Op shopping a try? Below are my top five locations I recommend to first timers!
1. Aggie’s Opp. Shop (St. Augustine’s Church) - Unley.
2. Vinnies - Norwood
3. RSPCA Rundle St Op Shop - City of Adelaide
4. RSPCA Kidman Park Op Shop - Kidman Park
5. Vinnies – Brighton