Is fast fashion over yet? NO… should it be? YES… it has been years since the first fast-fashion revolution step took place and, yet, it does not look like things are changing as they should. However, it feels like more and more people prioritize second-hand shopping or small ethical business shopping.

If you love to shop don’t worry, fast fashion is not where your true fashionista comes out! Being able to find the perfect unique piece in a vintage shop or second-hand shops is where you will truly show what fashion is about!

Why is second-hand good?

I already used this picture in one of my article about waste. Fast fashion educated you to believe that wearing a top for one day was ok and that lower the price more you can buy. It also made us believe that wearing something was making you look out-of-fashion or poor. I mean this just led to the point where we can pay today a t-shirt under £10; this is less than shipping a shirt from USA to France.

Did you know that not even half of the clothes you give to a charity are used, most of them are trashed and send to landfill? This is where I need you to open your imagination and think of the life of a fast-fashion trendy shirt you saw. First, it is produced with cheap, full of chemicals textiles by workers that are BARELY paid. Then, they are sent to the warehouse with plastic packaging. After that, they are added to the store to be sold. They can also be sent to you, here again, in a plastic packaging.

Fast fashion in three words: plastic waste, unethical practice, bad quality.

Luckily the fashion revolution movement finally decided to step up and with some hard work, a LOT of communications and some fights, their voices were heard. More and more people today realise the impact of fast fashion on not only the environment but also their finances. So many other options today exist for shopping:

• second-hand shopping/ charity shopping/ vintage
• ethical shopping/ small business

Second-hand shopping was mainly democratised with the app vinted: you can sell the clothing you don’t use anymore to others. An amazing idea which not only makes you money but also helps you declutter. You can also find second-hand shopping being linked with charities, helping by buying those clothes to raise money for a special cause.

This type of shopping is getting more and more popular. It helps not only to discover vintage unique pieces, or pieces from older collections in some shops that you could not afford, but also helps to raise money for people in need.

How to effectively second-hand shop:

There are several ways to go for hand shopping however the preparation is always similar and so important.

• First, you need a mood board. In a fast fashion shop, you will most likely have pre-prepared outfits next to each other. That help you visualize more how you could wear a piece but it also help them make more money. I mainly use Pinterest and put together outfit or mood that I like to go travel or on the daily basis or even for a night out. You would easily find that because of your style some pieces looks quite alike: a tee shit, or a jean, or a coat.

• Second, reflecting on your mood board, open your wardrobe and assess your needs. Do you need another coat? Can’t you adjust this Pinterest outfit to what you already have? Is this necessary? Are you going to use it more than once in your life? After this session, you should know exactly what you are searching for and what you do need.

• Third, begin the search. If it is a gloomy stay-at)home day you can go through vinted for example or scroll on charity pages on Instagram. You can also type second-hand shopping on your browser and find shops that sell online outfit. Yes, unfortunately, second-hand shop have still to properly reach the internet. My favourite shop from London don’t sell their pieces online because unfortunately they don’t have them in quantity and as they are quite popular the turnover of the clothes is quite quick.

If it is a sunny day, go out and walk around, do not be scared to enter in smaller shops. One of my favourite area: portobello road: you have a vintage shop, charity shop and more. I find new pieces all the times and I love the fact that they are so cheap and helping a good cause! my latest find was this gorgeous faux suede orange jacket. I found it in one of this portobello road charity shop before Christmas for £15.

Three sentences that describe second-hand shopping are: helping charity, cheap clothing but good quality, one step towards less fashion waste.