If you’ve read my earlier blog posts then you know I’ve started eliminating things from my life in order to be healthier. Along the way I also started looking at the amount of waste we produce and have begun to take steps to reduce that amount. In recent months one of the things I decided is when it comes to clothing I’m no longer going to buy new. I mean there are obviously some things I’ll buy new. However, things like jeans, pants, shirts, sweaters, jackets, shoes, etc. I plan to buy secondhand.

Why?

Because the fashion industry is one of the most wasteful industries there are. They create new lines every season or at least every year, trying to get you to buy the latest trend. What they don’t sell often goes into the landfills when they clear it out to make room for the new stuff. There are lots of second hand stores around, but there are also apps like Thred Up that allow you to buy gently used and like new items at a fraction of the price.

I first used them three or four years ago. I saw an advertisement and decided to check them out. I ordered a few things and was surprised at how easy it was to shop. When my purchase arrived the items I got looked brand new. In a few cases they still had the tags attached. I have some old jackets I’m thinking about sending to them to sell. It will be my first time trying to sell things through their app. They don’t take everything, but they give you the option to either pay to have the items they reject sent back to you, or they will donate them for you at no cost to you. Since I got rid of two-thirds of my closet last year I don’t have a whole lot to sell at the moment. Other than the coats. 

There are other such apps out there and plenty of local secondhand stores around, but the only app I’ve used is Thred Up. It’s easy to search and they even have it so you can input your sizes and then search only those items that match. It makes it a lot easier to find what you’re looking for. It also allows me to buy items that I normally wouldn’t due to the original prices. For instance, I recently bought a $250 dollar pair of boots for $70 and a $70 jacket for $23. It’s those savings that allow me to buy higher end items without feeling guilty. Because I just can’t justify spending $250 on a pair of boots no matter how nice they are. 

The one big downside is that there is only one item so you have to decide quickly whether or not you want it because depending on what it is, odds are it won’t last long. And if you get it home and then it doesn’t fit you can’t just order the next size. But I’ve found that this means if I buy something it’s something I really want. I browse often and will add things to my favorite list and then set it aside. If it’s still available in a few hours or even a few days then I’ll take a second look and if I still want it and it’s something I need and not just want, then I’ll add it to my cart and keep it there for an hour or so before hitting that buy button. I figure if someone else buys it before I can get it into my cart then I wasn’t meant to have it anyway.

And since I’ve started trying to keep a minimalist wardrobe I only search for the things I need. Like a fleece jacket or a cardigan. I don’t search the entire women’s category because I know there will be things I like but don’t really need. If I don’t see them then I can’t convince myself that one more purse won’t hurt anything. Or that buying that shirt I really like is okay, even though I know I will probably never really wear it because I never dress up.

There are some items that are marked as not returnable, but most of them can be returned for a small fee. So if you get it home and it doesn’t fit or you change you’d mind, you can always sent it back for a refund.

While it’s not ideal since buying online means more carbon emission from the transportation of goods than if you were to buy from a local store, it’s still better than buying new. At least in my opinion. Over the next few years I plan to stop buying from the big chain stores and online retailers and go back to buying from the smaller, local businesses. I know in some instances it won’t be possible to find what I need locally or from a small business, but when at all possible I will be choosing that option.