Over the final ten years, thrifting has grown from Salvation Army drop-off packing containers to Instagram accounts devoted to reselling classic garments.
The vogue business is altering, with devoted thrift and classic shops run on-line on the forefront of the evolution.
At least 52 per cent of customers purchased garments from op-shops like St Vinnies, 33 per cent used on-line platforms and 15 per cent thrifted at markets or devoted classic shops.
The demand for on-line, accessible thrift shops has by no means been greater. Just final yr, US on-line second-hand designer items retailer The Real Real made near US$300million by way of solely on-line gross sales.
Vintage vogue’s new face
Cara Weinstock at all times had a love for vogue, however as an 18-year-old highschool scholar she could not afford costly, high-quality objects.
So she turned to thrifting as an alternative. Sifting by way of piles of garments at markets and op outlets paid off – and she or he shortly realised she may promote uncommon objects she discovered whereas thrifting.
“I got to a point where I was buying stuff that I knew wouldn’t fit me, but they were such good deals… like $20 for a second-hand Versace dress… who wouldn’t?” she mentioned.
After a company detour as a practising lawyer, she opened up her second-hand classic retailer on Instagram in 2012. Eleven years later, she has 24.9K Instagram followers.
Instagram has develop into a well-liked platform for classic thrift shops to advertise their garments, however for Weinstock, she had no different possibility.
“That (Instagram) was it, in 2012 that was the big social media platform to promote a fashion business on,” she mentioned.
“Instagram at that point was really a great tool for promoting a business, it was a lot easier to grow organically and reach an audience. I think now it’s a lot harder to do that.”
She additionally opened a web site however continued to make use of Instagram to advertise her retailer. Today, Cara Mia Vintage has develop into some of the dependable locations to buy second-hand designer in Australia.
The retailer is totally run on-line, with the uncommon pop-up store showing now and again. When Cara Mia Vintage began, it was one of many first classic shops to interrupt by way of to the net market.
“I have experimented with other apps, I think the best way to do it is to maintain your own website and to use Instagram as a promotional tool,” she mentioned.
“If you decide to sell solely on Depop for example, what happens if one day Depop decides to shut down your account? It’s the same thing with Instagram.”
Now, there are lots of of devoted classic and second-hand outlets in Australia, with most of them utilizing social media as a way of promoting.
“Social media has made it easier for people to access affordable and second-hand fashion,” Weinstock mentioned.
“It’s even good for educating people on brands they might not have heard of before…that information is more accessible now.”
Thrifting’s function in combating quick vogue
Upcoming designer and founding father of sustainable sluggish vogue model Jas the Label, Jasmine Ypermachou, says that thrifting is vital to stopping quick vogue’s environmental harm.
“Thrifting starts a circular fashion model and allows for discarded fast and slow fashion pieces to be re-used and repurposed by others,” she mentioned.
“When we feel a piece is no longer ‘our style’ or lacks timelessness, thrifting allows for fast fashion pieces to hold more value and it means less clothing items are being bought, slowing the damaging fast fashion cycle.”
How Australians used to decorate earlier than quick vogue
However, the elevated demand for good-quality second-hand clothes has seen the worth level of thrifted objects enhance considerably during the last decade.
To assist meet demand, St Vincent de Paul Society in the present day opened its first inner-city retailer in over ten years in Surry Hills.
“It’s more significant than just the commercial presence, it’s about social presence. We’re a place that people turn to for help, and we will never walk away from that,” she mentioned.
“I do think the situation has changed – it’s harder to find high-quality vintage clothes for decent pricing today, it’s not impossible but it is harder”, Weinstock mentioned.
Ypermachou mentioned customers ought to take heed to lower-income households when thrifting or reselling objects.
“Just have more awareness for those in need about the options they have and create safe spaces online to share with these communities,” she mentioned.
“There are so many second-hand circles and online groups to be a part of, where second-hand clothes are sold for cheap.”
Even if thrifting will not be for you, customers can nonetheless minimise their carbon footprint by buying new garments in an environmentally aware method.
“You don’t need to be buying 50 pieces of fast fashion, buy less but buy better quality that will last you longer,” Weinstock mentioned.
