Simple Ways to Buy Sustainable Fashion Choices

Sustainable fashion. It’s a movement I’m passionate about and frequently discuss here on the blog.

Well, this month, Oxfam, a UK-based international non-profit group focusing on ending global poverty, kicked-off a month-long initiative called Second Hand September and this campaign struck a chord with me in particular given all the “back to school” shopping and consumption focus.

Their goal is to raise awareness of the vast impact of “fast fashion” and encourage people to purchase and upcycle pre-loved clothing this month instead of buying new.

“Every week 11 million items of clothing end up in landfill. Throwaway fashion is putting increasing pressure on our planet and its people – it’s unsustainable.” – Oxfam

I would be lying if I said I only shop secondhand, but in the last year I’d say half of the items I decide to add to my closet are secondhand. I especially love finding designer and luxury items – classic, chic and well-made clothing and handbags – that outlast seasonal trends.

Here are six places to shop secondhand and contribute to the sustainable fashion movement:

1. ThredUp – You can shop for everyone in the family from ThredUp (including maternity clothing) and they’ve built up their designer options so you can invest in classic pieces like luxury blazers, coats and purses for a fraction of the retail price. I also love to find NWT (“New With Tags”) items or “like new” pieces for the kids.
2. TheRealReal – This is my go-to online consignment shop for anything designer. Everything is authenticated and an item’s condition is described in detail so you know exactly what you are getting. (Here’s a referral discount code to save $25 on your first order)
3. Tradesy – This online marketplace makes it simple to purchase clothing and accessories. Listings are reviewed/authenticated by Tradesy so you can feel confidant in your purchases. Tradesy started as a destinnationto sell gowns and wedding attire so you can find formalwear galore along with casual wear and tons of designer (new and vintage) items.
4. Crossroads Trading – This store re-sells only like-new items as well as consigns luxury goods so it’s a place to find of-the-moment and designer pieces at very fair prices.
5. ShopGoodwill.com – The website version of this national non-profit store offers eBAY-style auctions for literally anything you could imagine. When it comes to clothing, you can everything from vintage to NWT items.
6.  Lori’s Listings NY is a female-run business and through the beauty of Ebay and Poshmark, you have access hundreds of consignors looking to re-home items from their closet. Lori’s Listings carries it all – contemporary pieces from retailers like Club Monaco or Anthropologie – to luxury designer brands and vintage accessories.

I’ll be focusing on new sustainable fashion posts throughout the month, but in the meantime here are other sustainable style posts I wrote recently:

The Style DJ’s Guide to Consignment Shopping

5 Ways to Buy Designer on Discount

Thrifting Tips to Score Designer Treasures

Closet Clean-Out Guide

I signed the Secondhand September pledge saying I won’t purchase new clothing for the next 30 days. Will you take the pledge with me?

XOXO,

Emily