Second-hand is the new sustainable fashion

Old clothes are in and the trend of reusing, reselling, renting, recycling used garments is growing at a steady pace, globally. Now, you no longer need to limit yourself to the same dress for every occasion, simply expand your wardrobe in multiple ways (see box below).

Media person Bryan D who believes in renting second-hand clothes for red carpet events explains, “Anyone not wanting to spend too much on something they might not wear ever again, should definitely rent out. Mind you, it’s not because they cannot afford it, but because it just makes more sense to rent an exclusive 'look'.”

There are also some who prefer buying pre-loved ensembles. Fashionista Sonu Singh says. “I don’t believe in spending 20K for an outfit when I can get something similar but pre-worn, for much less.”
Opting for the luxury of multiple looks without spending a bomb is the key.

Fashion designer Aniket Satam says, “Pre-owned is a great initiative by designer brands to inculcate conscious consumption. Recently, we incorporated innovative hand skills and craft techniques such as interlacing, patchwork to reuse our stack print and create our own unique textures and surface ornamentation. This upcycling helped to reduce carbon footprints and also helped us to give back to the society with dignity. We employed homemakers who created quilts and patchwork patches which we later on incorporated in our designs. Celebrities and stylists are also supporting and bringing authentic vintage fashion in mainstream style.”


EXPAND YOUR WARDROBE IN MULTIPLE WAYS

• Cloud closets= Subscription based clothes rental services
• Pre-loved shopping = Buying clothes that someone else has owned and loved
• Thrift shopping = Buying used items in good shape at discounted prices
• Peer-to-peer clothes swapping = Share clothes with your BAE, friends
• Vintage shopping = Buying something that is over 20-100 years old

NUMBER CRUNCHING: WHY WE SHOULD USE SECOND-HAND
The mainstream fashion industry worldwide is the second largest polluting industry plagued by waste and carbon emissions. According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the fashion industry is accountable for over 10 percent of global carbon emissions currently, and by 2050 will be responsible for over 24 per cent of global carbon budget. It is responsible for 20 % of the world's wastewater. 64 per cent of what we buy ends up in landfills. Buying used ones will reduce a garment’s carbon footprint by 82 per cent.

DID YOU KNOW?

• According to fibre2fashion almost 100 percent of textiles and clothing are recyclable.
• More than 70 per cent of the world's population uses second hand clothing.
• The global resale market for apparel will reach $51 billion by 2029
• Over the next five years, second-hand trend shows a projected growth rate of 15 per cent annually

PSST...
Chain clothing brands are offering used clothes collection bins in-store in some countries