Why did you stop buying first-hand clothes?
Ever since I can remember I went to thrift stores with my mother, it was and is her hobby to find the gems. Even our clothes came mostly from thrift stores, so the concept of second-hand shopping was not new to me. But of course, as an adolescent you want the newest and trendiest item. With my own clothes money I bought cheap fast fashion. That way, for little money, I could buy a lot of nice clothes. Once I started studying, I realized more and more how polluting the clothing industry is, and that someone else is paying for my clothes, namely the children who have to make my clothes and the planet that is being damaged by all the consumption. I soon found out that more expensive clothes are not necessarily better when it comes to materials or working conditions. So the logical option was to buy second-hand. I greatly enjoy finding a gem in a mountain of clothing. At first, I started by buying secondhand more and more, but when I really needed something, buying it at a firsthand store. Slowly I was able to find everything secondhand and the need for firsthand clothing fell away. By now I have not purchased a first-hand clothing item for over 2 years.
So where do you buy your clothes?
Of course, second-hand clothing doesn't say a whole lot yet. Where once the only option was the thrift store, you now fortunately have a lot of additional options. Vintage stores like Kilo Kilo and Appel&Ei are nice to shop in, but I especially like the local second-hand stores. I live in Zwolle, the Netherlands, and there you have Savvy and Lua, two very nice second-hand stores. I go there when I really need something or want a piece of clothing that doesn't hang much in thrift stores, like linen pants, the perfect fitting jeans or an item you need quickly. While shopping I often look at the materials of the clothes, natural materials like cotton, linen and wool last much longer than clothes made of polyester or nylon for example. Thus, I often find items that still last an incredibly long time.
Do you miss shopping in regular clothing stores?
No, not really. In the beginning it took some getting used to, especially when my friends liked to shop all over the place. But now many of my friends also buy their clothes second-hand and I have learned to appreciate the fact that I do not go into every store and buy an item. That helps me take a moment to think about the item and ask myself the question; do I really need this? The answer really does not always have to be yes, I often buy clothes that I love, but not necessarily highly necessary. Still, it helps to dwell on why you want an item.
You really don't buy anything first-hand anymore?
"laughs"; of course there are some exceptions. For me, that limit is underwear and sometimes sportswear. I think underwear is as hygienic to buy new and often you see that sportswear has already molded itself to the person who has worn it. So I occasionally buy that new, but where I can, I use vinted to find sportswear that still looks as good as new. I also sometimes buy swimwear new, but even that I often find second-hand. After one good wash and buying only items that look neat, it's as good as new again!
How do you look at shopping in "regular" clothing stores now?
Because I hardly ever go there anymore, I'm always a little shocked when I walk into a Zara, for example. So many clothes, lots of sales and especially an awful lot of people. Clothing consumption is huge, not only in the Netherlands but worldwide. It is also the second most polluting industry in the world. I understand the urge for new clothes, I have always loved shopping and still love new clothes. Only, as far as I am concerned, the definition "new" can be drawn more broadly. I see new as something that hasn't been mine yet. May have been from a friend, a Vinted seller or a thrift store, to me it is new.
What would you say to someone who would also like to buy less first-hand clothing?
Make it as fun as possible! In your town, look for the local vintage/temporary clothing stores, and shop around there. Do you live in a place that doesn't have that? Go with your friends to Utrecht, for example, where there is a world of nice second-hand stores. It is often easier and more fun than you think. Especially the feeling when you have found something nice that fits and is unique is great.
.png)
