Since the days of the musty charity shop, used clothing has advanced significantly.
Since people can trade clothes on websites like Depop, Vinted, and eBay, the buying and selling of "pre-loved" clothing has grown significantly.
However, there is evidence that some fashionistas are choosing to only purchase used clothing, not only because it is more affordable and environmentally friendly, but also because they want to express their individual style. .
Isabella Vrana, 26, turned it into a business.
She started selling items on Depop as a hobby while still a student eight years ago, and since then, she has made £800,000 in sales and the company is still expanding.
A "shopping problem" was the catalyst for the whole thing.
I was basically buying too much for myself, she claims. But since everything was used, I was able to purchase it all for incredibly low prices. As a result, I simply chose to begin selling those items for cash and soon discovered that I was making money on each item. " .
Ms. Vrana, sometimes with assistance from her mother, was packaging up vintage clothing for customers and rushing to the post office between lectures while her fellow university students were working weekends in pubs or restaurants.
Ms. Vrana made the bold decision to transition into selling used clothing full-time after failing to land a position as a professional fashion buyer due to a lack of prior industry experience.
She says it was frightful. "At the time, my only priorities were a boss, a paycheck, paid time off, and sick leave. '".
She continues, though, "Actually I'm really glad I just sort of went for it because I love being self-employed. " .
The clothing is shipped, sorted, photographed, and sent out to customers who access Ms. Vrana's business through Depop from two studios, three employees, and a shipping container/warehouse.
Additionally, she recently established a wholesale company to supply vintage clothing to other online retailers and hosted pop-up stores in New York, Dublin, and Copenhagen. And she offers her own Isabella Vrana brand for sale.
Ms. Vrana claims that in her eight years in the industry, she has witnessed significant changes in the demand for used clothing.
People are increasingly buying used items to try to be more sustainable, she says, adding that it wasn't so common when she first started.
Additionally, well-made vintage clothing has a high quality. "These items are still in use and still lasting decades. Consider a vintage pair of jeans. "I have jeans from the 1990s with dry cleaning labels and they're still going so strong," she says.
"I think people are realizing that while you might have to invest a little more up front, the long-term benefits are worth it," the author says. ".
The demand for used clothing has increased in a "phenomenal" way, according to Adam Jay, marketplace chief executive at the clothing resell app Vinted.
From 1.2 million in 2021, Vinted now has over 8 million registered users in the UK.
There are the obvious motives for why people are drawn to used clothing.
At a time when many people are struggling with the cost of living, purchasing new clothing and footwear can be expensive.
The Office for National Statistics reports that the annual rate of price growth for clothing and footwear was 60.5 percent from April. .
The production of cotton and the use of oil to make synthetic materials like polyester, which are used in the fashion industry, together account for between 8 and 10 percent of all global emissions, according to the UN.
However, according to vlogger and fashionista Rosie Okotcha, "thrifted fashion is very cool now because it's my personal style, no one else can get it.".
She attributes the popularity of second-hand clothing to TikTok and Instagram, particularly among "Gen Z" consumers (those who were born between the mid-1990s and the mid-2000s).
The kinds of styles people are buying are a reflection of that.
Depop claims that oversized denim, vibrant crochet, and vintage t-shirts are all part of the "Y2K" trend that is currently popular on its app. Additionally, there is a demand for one-of-a-kind, customized goods as well as clothing that is made by hand or modified from pre-existing items. .
There is vintage clothing available in the High Street charity shop, despite the internet possibly fueling the trend.
According to Ms. Okotcha, one of her goals is to "eradicate the stereotype that there is something wrong with buying used goods because it is actually really fantastic fun and great for the environment.".
Although it might seem inevitable that the rise in popularity of apps would eventually lead to a shift in the direction of clothing donations away from the High Street, the Charity Retail Association (CRA) asserts that this is not the case.
Comparing January through March to the same three months in 2016, sales at charities increased by 151%. .
There is plenty of used clothing available, so the CRA views the expansion of online selling platforms as an addition to charity shops' efforts.
Ms. Vrana agrees that there is lots of room for rivalry and she intends to carry on. .
She claims that there is unquestionably money to be made.
"You can definitely support yourself by working on this full-time, which I appreciate a lot because, because I enjoy it so much, there are times when it doesn't even feel like a job. " .
- Make use of social media. Sharing images of what you want to sell on apps like Instagram will increase views and, ideally, sales. In your bio, mention how people can find you on marketplace apps.
- Compare:. Examine what other people are charging for comparable items if you're having trouble deciding how much to sell a piece of clothing for.
- Good lighting:. Make sure that you display the clothing in bright lighting. People want to know what they're buying, so don't be shy about pointing out flaws in the item.
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