Every week we dump 11 million items of unwanted clothing in landfill….
Today, we buy double the new clothes than we did ten years ago, it’s no secret that the fashion industry is one of the most polluting on the planet. Cheap, accessible, disposable’ fashion has dominated the market in the last decade, and consumers are now beginning to understand the consequences of this fast fashion monster, only a fraction of the clothing produced today is recyclable.
It’s clear the industry is willing to change, as fast as it is able; The big retailers are leading the way, but ultimately the power lies with the customer, as inevitably, the more ethical the product, the higher the cost. In the short term, industry sources suggest that ‘pre-loved’, second hand clothing is the way forward, it
is expected that this market will grow rapidly in the next ten years with consumers rejecting fast fashion.
Most of us have been buying and selling our treasures on eBay for some time, but now there is a new wave of second hand boutiques, shops and platforms that make it easier than ever to lay your hands on preloved bargains. This is not Charity Shop shopping, this is a purposeful and targeted shopping journey, where you are not only saving the planet, you are getting designer brands at a fraction of the cost.
Oxford Street’s Selfridges has just launched a new area, dedicated to the buying and selling of second-hand clothes, run by resale website, Vestiaire Collective.
And what’s new, is that it isn’t reserved for the superrich, yes there are high priced, unique items but The Guardian notes “there are high-end items available at
Vestiaire Collective @ Selfridges Image from The Guardian Zara-level prices, including a pair of Acne jeans for £45” so as a consumer, why wouldn’t you take a look?
They also mention “in the world of limited-edition trainers the opposite is true. One pair of Nike shoes on sale at the concession originally retailed at about £120,
but are now being sold for £910”
What’s different about this new market to the EBay and Charity shops of old is the way the items are presented, you still have the feeling you are buying luxury. The imagery, blogs, trends, information, all lead to a thoroughly enjoyable user experience.
Depop, which is Instagram meets eBay, now has over 15 million users, and it’s a very different app to navigate than eBay, it’s about style, content and
conscious sustainability.
So is this the changing face of Fashion?
I don’t believe we will ever remove the need, or want, for fast wearable fashion, as a consumer I buy cheap and I buy often, and I am certain I will continue to do so, but I will definitely consider pre-loved for some of the key seasonal pieces.
Kathryn Barksby | Senior Fashion Recruiter
People Marketing Fashion Recruitment
k.barksby@peoplemarketing.co.uk
Main: 0115 922 3335