25 travel-worthy thrift stores across the world

Image credit: Noemie Roussel

Now that secondhand shopping and thrifting is a global phenomenon, let's take a look at some of the most popular secondhand stores across the world that are drawing attention for their unique features and finds. With fast fashion constantly churning out textiles and people cycling through new clothes faster than shops can keep up, thrift stores are a fantastic way to slow down this cycle and give a piece of clothing a second chance. 

From Tokyo to Texas, every major city has its unique flair. These top slow fashion and vintage style spots are some of the favourites with locals, travellers and tourists. Check them out on your next trip or look for one close to home!

In no particular order…

1. City Walk Thrift (Tallahassee, Florida)

Starting with my home state and my personal favorite place to donate and thrift in Florida, City Walk Thrift is a great option for shoppers of all levels. It features gently used clothing at affordable prices and the best part is that all the proceeds go towards housing and sober living programs. But what makes this thrift store stand out is their ability to make even used fashion feel luxurious. Their store layout gives more of a boutique feel than an average thrift store, letting the clothes each have their moment to shine and allowing customers to easily find their next favorite piece.

2. Kilo Shop (Paris, France & Europe-wide)

The city of love has a chain thrift store with a shopping style that's bound to catch the eye of any major thrifter. Shopping by the kilo! When you shop at one of these locations, you're not buying per item, but rather by weight. With a setup that parallels any major retail store, it almost feels as though you are shopping first hand, but with these prices, there's no way!

3. Ragtag (Tokyo, Japan)

A little further away is a store that stands out for its focus in used luxury fashion. Don't get them confused with their sister brand Ragtag Global which is a solely online second hand thrift store. This thrift store has a few main branches spreading all over Tokyo, so if you're planning on making the trip, why not stop by and grab some gently used luxury pieces!

4. Ekoluv ( Sydney, Australia)

Image credit: Ekoluv Instagram

Nicknamed “the boutique that gives back”, this high fashion location aims to give back to its community by empowering women and tackling carbon emissions. Find everything from Givenchy bags to Chanel Earrings -all pre loved, all in fantastic condition! Looking to partner with other sustainably focused communities and businesses, this thrift spot “holds sustainability at their core”! So don't just make the trek to this spot for their high end, rare finds, but the ethics that backs it up! (rentals).

5. Greendale House Thrift Shop (Johannesburg, South Africa)

Besides its interesting location, this thrift store in South Africa is known for its mission in community driven representation. It is not only mostly run by volunteers, but also, everything earned goes to Hospice Wits, providing free care for patients and their families to battle life-threatening illnesses. But even if that didn't get you, think about some of the principles this spot incorporates. While other local spots may raise their prices for tourists and higher seasons, this charity shop does its best to keep pieces at an affordable height, catering to every income level. Come shop here for everything from shoes and t-shirts to books and antiques!

6. Spúútnik (Reykjavík, Iceland)

This thrift store doesn't just catch attention with its street style and affordable clothing options, but also its cultural influence guided by curated picks! Nestled directly in Reykjavík's city center, this spot is a perfect place to attract both locals and tourists. Not only that, but with its high quality vintage pieces and inventory of current trends, you have a good chance of bumping into an interesting local style or maybe even some pure Icelandic designs!

Image credit: Spúútnik Instagram

7. El Ropero (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Similar to the Icelandic thrift store in Reykjavík, El Ropero's inventory is a curated, sorted through collection of the community's goods and clothing to give every customer a chance to see the best Argentina has to offer. Their strength lies in their wide range of options, with styles ranging from retro and trend seeking to affordable bargain finds! However, what makes El Ropero stand out amongst their community is their center in charity. All the proceeds earned goes towards food, clothing and resources to people in need. So don't just thrift, go to El Ropero and give back too!

8. The Lady Next Door  (Warren, Rhode Island)

Recently having passed from one owner to the next, this eclectic antique shop is a hometown favorite for many passionate fashion enthusiasts that call Rhode Island home. First opening in 1982, after Sandy Nathansons -the previous owners- enticing career in set decoration and styling in both TV and film, this store provided a perfect time capsule of all the best moments in her exciting career. They not only sell, but buy clothing as well! Becoming a collection of all things vintage and designer, The Lady Next Door doesn't discriminate on what you bring in, even if it's not clothes, “if [they] like it , [they] have space for it”. Check out this location on your next trip to New England, it definitely won’t disappoint!

9. Goodbyes (Melbourne, Australia)

Goodbyes is exactly what the name implies, a perfect place for you to say goodbye to your once loved items. Boasting a wide selection of all sizes and styles, their main goal is to reduce each individual person's shopping environmental impact, one thrift at a time. With six stores and nine years of service under their belts, Goodbyes recycles over 180K annually! Visit Melbourne and be a part of this amazing statistic.

10. McMurdo Station “Skua” (Antarctica)

While Antarctica may not be on your list of thrift or holiday destinations, it's worth giving a nod to this remote, slow fashion swap hub. McMurdo Station, or Skua got its claim to fame because of its extremely remote location. The interesting part about this thrift experience is that no currency is ever exchanged. Because this area is so difficult to get to, this station offers tourists and scientists alike the opportunity to leave items they no longer need for the next group of travelers. From warm clothing and boots to even interesting personal items, this second-hand store is the perfect example of a circular economy!

11. Rokit (London, UK)

Those of us that are no strangers to thrifting have probably heard of this thrift store. Rokits brand has become widely known for its iconic vintage looks. However, something you may not have heard is that they originally got their start with the inspiration of 1980s American denim. This concept of recycling fashion generations has definitely had an impact on their uptake in the community, first opening with a small market stall and now known as one of London's top chain thrift spots!

12. Irvrsbl (Melbourne, Australia)

Image credit: IRVRSBL Instagram

A more local feature to this list is Melbourne's Irvsbl, a curated high fashion thrift where all your favorite designers can be once again explored and enjoyed.  Focusing mainly on name brand designers, this may not be the spot for a casual stroll without a solid budget and some time to spare but that's never stopped me! Add this spot to your to-do list for your next stop in Melbourne and you're sure to get everyone asking about your trip!

 13. Casa Juisi (São Paulo, Brazil)

Not only a local favorite spot, but also featured in a  vogue article, this thrift store defies second hand shopping expectations with its historical tilt, upscale selection and crazy array of choices. It's a store that fits everyone like a glove (pun intended) whether you're shopping for your next favorite designer shoes or a classic floor length gown for a dressy occasion. Located directly in the city center, I suggest you leave a good chunk of your day to browse and enjoy all this store has to offer!

14. New York Vintage (NYC, USA)

Speaking of luxury, New York Vintage in New York, New York is a surefire hit for amazing thrift finds! Its specialty in selling “swanky” vintage couture and high end designer goods makes it the perfect place for some post paycheck fun! This thrift spot may not be in everyone's budget, its curated, authenticated repertoire provides the perfect destination for someone booking for their statement piece!

15. Skat Vintage (Paris, France)

Image credit: Skat Vintage Instagram

Catering to a more high fashion scene, this spot in France is a great choice for a pricey, name brand statement item. With its modern boutique style, its dog friendly atmosphere and its recent appearance on Vogue's 10 best vintage stores in Paris, every item in this selection is bound to make you reach for your wallet. Its online store and Instagram alone are reason enough to save up and visit this spot!

17. Cherry Canary Vintage (Indiana, USA)

This incredibly stocked vintage shop makes this top 20 list because of its amazing selection and diversity of not only costume pieces, but also vinyl records! A great reminder that almost everything can be used and reused again. With vinyl coming back in style, here is the perfect place to shop for your favorite classic albums without spending the money for a brand new disc. Jumping back to consume items, Halloween is coming up so this may be a perfect chance to grab your friends pre-plan your group costume!

18. Jet Rag (Los Angeles, California USA)

What makes Jet Rag so special isn't their amazing selection of everyday clothes at fantastic prices, but their Sunday special. For those looking for cheaper thrifting options, this spot hosts 1$ Sundays every week! From leather jackets to jeans and street clothes, everything is 1$ from 11-7:30pm. That leaves time for a late morning coffee, some brunch with friends and then an entire day of affordable shopping!

19. Root Hongdae (Hongdae, South Korea)

Located in the heart of Seoul, Root stands out amongst the atmosphere of vibrant street life, youthful art and culture and a wide and prominent fashion hub. Known for its interesting underground location and wide vintage selection, Root caters to a younger generation looking for a selection of second hand clothing that mirrors the culture of the area. With a huge inventory and prices that match anyone's budget, this is definitely a can't miss location!

Image credit: Root Hongdae Instagram

19. Potts Point Vintage (Sydney, Australia)

Dubbed Sydney's best vintage store by GQ Magazine and TIME OUT SYDNEY, this vintage stop has a long standing reputation for quality designer items. Providing both mens and womens clothing, Potts Point ranges all the way from 1890s styles up to 1980s fashion. Can’t make the trip over? No worries! Potts Point Vintage has an extremely easy to use and accessible online store. To top it all off is this store's highlight appearances in the Australian Film industry! With its amazingly unique curated goods, why not collect wardrobe pieces for up and coming dramas?

20. Reflections Consignment (Concord, Massachusetts USA)

Rated best women's consignment store in Concord, Massachusetts, Reflections Consignment offers women's items ranging from everyday clothing and accessories to even designer pieces. This small town store has an aesthetic to perfectly compliment its environment, warm, cozy and very eclectic! Having served its community since 1978, this spot has a perfect place in west concords bustling center, providing some perfect pre dinner fun or after ice cream browse. Its award winning selection will have you booking your next trip. Check out their online store to get a sneak peek!

 21. Retro Metro: Paddington (Brisbane, Australia)

This branch store to the larger Retro Metro is exactly the place to visit after a long day of work or even classes! With its affordable prices and gender friendly selections, most pieces you find will come at a great bargain! The best part? The items that stock these isles are known to be great quality. Ranging from around $10-25, this may just be the perfect opportunity to hop on a new trend! Not looking for clothes? No worries, this location does much more than that. Visit this Paddington location for your next favorite book or trinket! 

22. Ebisu/Daikanyama (Tokyo, Japan)

Just a short flight from Australia is this local Shibuya-ku jem, Daikanyama on 2nd street. Another boutique style thrift store, this urban shop holds specifically selected items both expensive and affordable, that allow for current fashion trends and brands to easily take the forefront. But don't just come here for the clothes, this spot contains a wide variety of name brand accessories, with huge lineups of burberry bags, trendy baseball caps and much more!

23. Hippy Market (Paris, France)

Image credit: Hippy Market Instagram

Looking for that classic bohemian free spirit look? Shop no further than Paris’s hippy market! With 100% recycled items that are updated weekly, authenticity and originality are key components of this spot's character. With more of a sustainability lens, this is the perfect spot to stop by on a daily commute or browse on your weekends off. Planning a summer trip to Europe? Look for the Hippy Markets amazing summer sale!

24. U-Turn Recycled Fashion (Sydney & Melbourne, Australia)

For some Sydney locals, the U-Turn chains are a heart wrenching view on your daily commute. With their trendy fashion feel and amazing prices, it can be hard for fashionistas to pull away from the enticing view that promises at least an hour of happiness. But their most notable connection to the city is their proximity to two of Sydney’s prominent universities giving their locations the perfect access to student foot traffic for both thrifting and donating!

25. Stella Dallas Living (Brooklyn, New York, USA)

In the heart of Brooklyn, New York is Stella Dallas Living. An interesting thrift store for their specific curation of vintage American workwear and military apparel. Set upon a cozy little street in Brooklyn, this store is a can't miss for anyone traveling in the area. And to make the deal even sweeter, stop by and meet their dedicated store employee, the cutest little dachshund on the street!

Article by Caroline Teto

The fashion TRENDmill explained

Nina Gbor wearing a secondhand ensemble with items from an op shop and consignment store acquired in 2017 and 2019. Image credit: Pepper Street Photography

I've been into sustainable fashion since I was 15 years old - wearing, promoting, styling and living the preloved lifestyle. This was long before sustainable fashion was a global movement and long before the term ‘sustainable fashion’ was a buzz word for nearly every brand and flocks of influencers. I abhorred fashion trends from a young age. I couldn’t understand why so many people clung tenaciously to a made-up reality where everyone is expected to wear the same trending styles of clothing until the dictators of fashion decided it was time to decree the next short-lived trend. This is fashion’s Jedi mind trick.

The fashion industry

In 2019, the size of the global apparel and footwear market was $1.9 trillion USD. It’s been projected to reach $3.3 trillion dollars by 2030. Several reasons exist as to why this industry is so lucrative. There’s the craftmanship, art, design, creativity, skills, beauty, artisanry and of course practicality that leads to the production of items that we love and find useful. In many instances, most or perhaps even all of these talents deserve to garner significant profits. But then there’s the dark side of the industry that has been inducing tremendous profits through atrocious practices. This side has been thriving on extreme capitalism with no concern for humans, animals nor the planet. The sole purpose is to amass huge profits at all costs. This is why we currently have 100 – 150 billion garments being manufactured each year, with only an estimated 8 billion humans to use them. It’s unsurprising that about 87% of items manufactured each year end up in landfill or incinerated.  

Where fashion trends went wrong

This unchecked, environmentally degrading side of fashion has been able to grow and thrive so expeditiously in part due to the use of fashion trends. For probably about a century, following fashion trends was a significant part of social culture and clothing. It was portrayed in different forms. Fashion collections produced by brands have traditionally been designed and manufactured based on the four western weather seasons of Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The trends generally adhered to this as well. Fast fashion hijacked and exacerbated the idea of trends and took it from about 4 trend cycle collections a year, to about 110 trend and microtrend collections a year. Naturally the time from one trend to the next decreased in the process. This is one of the factors that lead to over 100 billion garments being manufactured each year. Not to mention the tsunami of environmental and social justice issues from this overproduction and overconsumption.

Fashion’s environmental and social injustice issues

For too many decades, the grody side of the fashion industry has been using clever big-budget advertising, marketing, influencers and celebrities, to successfully manipulate people into feeling that they’re not enough unless they’re wearing the latest fashion trends. They’ve been able to control this aspect of social culture and use it to catapult their profits by somehow coercing many people to consistently buy apparel they don’t need. This is all in the name of aspiring to fit into this warped system that requires allegiance to whatever is trending in the moment.

With more trends being put out each year, planned obsolescence by clothing brands has become rampant. This means clothes are being designed for limited use with shorter life spans so that consumers are forced or encouraged to repeat purchases because the initially purchased items are not durable. The garments made by many fashion brands are increasingly being made from cheaper, poorer quality materials such as polyester. When something is damaged, it’s often less costly to buy a new one than to repair it. Products made in this manner very often end up in landfill in relatively short periods of time. In other words, these clothes are made to be disposable. This is the take-make-waste system that exists in fashion and several other industries.

The cost of the trends

The environmental damage from this excessive oversupply occurs at scale through deforestation, ocean and freshwater pollution, destruction of ecosystems and animal habitats, desertification, toxic chemical loading in soil and water bodies, etc. UN Climate Change states that annually, 1.2 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases are emitted from textiles production. By some calculations, sector emissions are projected to increase by more than 60% by 2030. In addition to that, there’s the devastating problem of modern slavery where garment workers are exploited, abused and drastically underpaid so that brands can make extreme profits. According to the 2022 Ethical Fashion Report conducted by The World Baptist Aid, 60 million people work in the global fashion industry. To give context to the general nature of social injustice and inequality in the industry, only 10% of companies surveyed in the report could show evidence of paying liveable wages to garment workers.

The personal style con

In the last few years, mainstream fashion began to drop the habit and promotion of following fashion trends. Embracing one’s own personal style became the thing to do. At the outset this shift appeared very positive for the environment and consumers alike. However, it didn't take long for fast fashion to find a way to also capitalise on the personal style wave by getting people to 'find or express their personal style' through constantly buying lots of fast fashion.

The shocking and sad truth is that following fashion trends never stopped. It simply changed form. OVERCONSUMPTION HAS BECOME THE LONGSTANDING TREND. In fact, overconsumption is our modern cultural trend. We’re consuming 400% more clothing than we did 20 years ago, while the length of time we use the garments has fallen by almost 40%. It’s no longer only about buying trends and microtrends to fit in with everyone else and the culture. Now the normal thing is to just buy stuff period because it’s easy, cheap or convenient to do so, then throw it away when you’re bored with it. And then buy other brand new stuff again and repeat the cycle. Fast fashion has made clothes more affordable than ever before.

The fashion TRENDmill explained

The fashion TRENDmill (or fashion treadmill) is a phrase I came up with in 2016 to describe this modern culture of mindless overproduction and overconsumption of clothing that has become too common and normalised in our world. With these factors being the trend, this conveyor belt system is fuelled by the continuous take-make-waste linear cycle on steroids.   

We take (extract raw materials or virgin resources from the environment at enormous rates far beyond what we need). Then make (manufacture far more garments than is necessary or will be used). Followed by waste (majority of clothes end up in landfill relatively quickly). Disposability of clothes is embedded and expected in this cycle either through the culture of it or through planned obsolescence. There’s little or no consideration for reusing or prolonging the life of the textiles or the damage the TRENDmill system inflicts on the planet and its inhabitants.  

The TRENDmill and general overconsumption

There’s a very strong throughline of the fashion trendmill concept with other waste streams such as food, furniture, electronics, automobiles, the built environment and hospitality.

We’re consuming more products than we ever have in human history. Nearly A$66 trillion worth of stuff is being purchased every year globally which is the equivalent of an estimated A$2 million per second. These purchases include the gamut of material stuff and possibly services. The world’s use of material resources has increased ten-fold since 1900 and is projected to double again by 2030. It’s been projected that the consumer class will reach 5 billion people by the year 2030, meaning 1.4 billion more people will have discretionary spending power which explains why consumption rates are expected to double unless we get off the TRENDmill.  

We’re consuming our way into our own extinction

With these enormous levels of manufacturing and consumption, environmental degradation is at an all time high. This comes with things like toxic chemical loading on soil and water and extreme plastics pollution. These and other factors have been known to have fatal impacts on human health. As production keeps increasing, it looks as if we’re consuming our way into our own extinction.

A drastic reduction of natural resource use is critical. We need cultures and systems based on environmental sustainability and circular economy principles. There are colossal opportunities for us to stop the rapid flow of materials to landfill and reuse or repurpose these materials instead. And in the process, only take what we need from the earth. It will make our lives healthier, save the lives of animal species, reduce biodiversity loss, give us cleaner water, a healthier planet amongst other benefits.

How to get off the fashion trendmill

We currently have enough clothing on the planet to cater for the next 6 generations of humans. From the start of my sustainable fashion career, I've always talked about ignoring trends in favour of finding and expressing your personal style for the long term through secondhand garments (and not fast fashion). Secondhand clothing includes contemporary styles and clothes from nearly every fashion era dating back almost a century. One of the coolest ways to curate a sustainable wardrobe is to mix and match styles from one or multiple fashion eras to create your own individual style. It’s likely that this one-of-a-kind wardrobe tailored to your preferences will have any or all of these outcomes:

 1. keeping your clothes for longer periods of time because you always look great even with very little effort

2. saving financial resources because you’re buying less brand new stuff

3. evolving to the best or desired version of yourself using secondhand clothes.

Getting off the fashion trendmill helps reduce clothing waste because in a sustainably curated wardrobe, the outfits suit your body, lifestyle and personality. With these aspects fulfilled, hopefully the temptation to consistently buy new clothes or fast fashion all the time can begin to fade or get eliminated altogether.

Getting off the trendmill on a systemic level

Ultimately, we need to implement circular economy principles into textiles and other industries. Things will shift when we change our relationship with clothing and the culture surrounding consumption of other material things. Here's how:

Reuse - restyle, repair, resell, repurpose, buy secondhand, redesign, swap, hire, rent, borrow, upcycle

Buy new from ethical & sustainable brands - (Not brands that greenwash). Patronise brands that are transparent about how many garments they manufacture, their entire supply chain and their manufacturing processes. Also buy from small, local and emerging designers

Advocate for system change - simply by living an authentic sustainable lifestyle when and where you’re able even if you don't proclaim it publicly. You can also gently and kindly nudge your immediate circles and communities into sustainable habits or run community events like clothes or other item swaps that inspire people to action. You can even push for policy and legislation change through your local and federal political representatives.

*Perhaps the most imperative option is for us to shift our focus away from filling our lives with material stuff and ascribing such extreme value to material things. Placing higher value on experiences and more positive developments could be the new and hopefully permanent wave.

Restyling for the war on fashion waste

You’ve probably heard by now that extending the life of a garment by nine extra months reduces its carbon, water and waste footprint by 20 – 30% each.

So many of us are used to buying new outfits when we have an event or whenever we’re bored with our wardrobes. Some of us just have a habit of retail therapy on autopilot. The result of this vast mindless overconsumption? A world where fashion & textiles is one of the most polluting industries in the world.

Around 100 – 150 billion garments are manufactured each year in a world of roughly 8 billion people. It’s not surprising that 87% of that ends up in landfill or incinerated each year.

The great Vivienne Westwood once said we need to buy less, choose well and make our stuff last longer. One of the easiest, simplest things anyone at any age or size can do to reduce waste in their wardrobe (and save some money in the process) is to reuse and restyle the pieces in your wardrobe, instead of buying brand new clothes.

Fluoro pink 1980s retro Japanese kimono I styled in in 6 ways.

Restyling means wearing 1 garment in multiple ways, for multiple types of occasions. It’s the antithesis to buying lots of brand new clothes or fast fashion on a regular basis. A little creativity, layering and accessorising in fun ways can be magical. New outfit combinations you never dreamed of are formed when you bring out the clothes and accessories in your wardrobe for a session of playing dress up. Mix and match different pieces that you’ve never worn together before to form new looks.

For inspiration, I’ve put 4 wardrobe restyles in this article: my pink Japanese kimono, a model I styled in a plain black dress, my white vintage 1970s taffeta dress and a bronze dress. The cool thing is that from one look to the next, you forget that it’s the same garment worn slightly differently. And each look works for a different type of occasion.

The colour, pattern and style combinations we can make in our wardrobes are endless. I hope you try it with your clothes. You can turn a dress into a top by wearing a skirt over the bottom half or even only use the bottom half as a skirt by wearing a top over the top half. This is what I did in some of these images. You can mix something that’s formal with a piece that’s more casual so that you get to wear the formal garment a little more often. The possibilities are limitless!

You can find restyle ideas and inspiration from:

1. Insta or Tiktok style challenges

2. by putting all your clothes and accessories on your bed, mix them up, then you’ll start to notice new pairs and combo possibilities emerge as you stare at the pile.

3. outside perspectives. Invite a few friends over for a style party and let them restyle the pieces in your wardrobe. Take photos of each look every time you restyle so that you remember the combinations. This can be done using accessories like bags, shoes, scarves, jewellery.

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The benefits of restyling? Restyling your wardrobe can make your wardrobe feel new to you because you’re wearing existing and old pieces in brand new ways. This eliminates the need to buy new clothes because you’re bored or have an event coming up. If everyone does this regularly, it’ll definitely reduce clothing waste significantly.

From a personal style perspective, it can take your wardrobe to new heights!

You can save lots of money while still looking very stylish, from NOT buying new things.

Per year, the industry contributes 1.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, if the fashion industry continues on its current trajectory, it could use more than 26% of the world’s carbon budget by 2050. We need to embrace simple actions like restyling. It can make a huge difference in the war on fashion waste.

♥ Nina Gbor

@eco.styles

Secondhand September: the co-dependency of fast fashion and secondhand fashion

It's Secondhand September again this year which feels a little redundant for me because almost everyday has been a "secondhand September" day for me since I was a kid! As a matter of fact, about 99% of my extensive, eclectic wardrobe is secondhand.

Nevermind though because now that the world is finally catching on to the glory of preloved clothing, we have to keep the momentum going! Secondhand September gets bigger every year. So here's my all secondhand and thrifted ensemble: a colourful long coat, a pink dress, a pink bag, red sunglasses and ivory-coloured boots!

According to thredUP's 2022 Resale Report:

• 70% of consumers say it’s easier to shop secondhand now than it was 5 years ago.

• Resale is expected to grow 16 times faster than the broader retail clothing sector by 2026.

• The global secondhand apparel market will grow 127% by 2026 – 3X faster than the global apparel market overall!

On paper this is great news because secondhand is more 'sustainable' than new (fast) fashion. However for something to be secondhand, it has to be new first. Over 100 billion garments are still being manufactured each year and approximately 84% of it is still going to landfill in spite of the rise in secondhand fashion sales.

It's so cool to see so many people who would never wear preloved hoping onto this wagon. However, it's not sustainable, even for a thriving 'sustainable' secondhand market if over 100 billion garments are still being manufactured to cater for the secondhand market.

Retail brands being aware of the popularity of preloved, use the secondhand selling trend to justify their overproduction. As in, they can keep over producing because their customers will resell.

We have to get off this (secondhand) fashion TRENDmill (a phrase I made up) by quitting overconsumption of retail fashion in the first place. There's already an abundance of clothes on the planet including vintage! But we need to remember the garment workers who make these garments and insist that brands pay garment workers liveable wages with decent quality of work life, so that workers are not left out in the cold when we stop overconsuming fashion.

The first step is demanding full transparency of brands' supply chain through laws. Then adding laws that ensure liveable wages, equity, redundancy packages and additional support for workers. Big brands can afford it.

Photos by @hmp_photography._

 ♥ Nina Gbor

Insta: @eco.styles

My love for vintage Japanese kimonos

Images by Elena Delaver

Pretty sure it was love at first sight when I chanced upon this 1950s vintage Japanese kimono while thrift shopping on a random Saturday afternoon in November 2019 at a secondhand market. I must admit, even as a lifelong secondhand clothing shopper with an extensive and eclectic wardrobe, I was entranced when I first saw this beautiful piece of wearable art. It nearly had me feeling somewhat unworthy.

I was also blown away by what I was learning about traditional Japanese kimono history and culture from Shona as she taught me how to wear it before selling it to me. My love for kimonos has grown stronger ever since!

This is a wedding kimono, called a kakeshita. Based on the embroidery style, it's likely from the 1950s and it's 100% silk. So rare, if not impossible to find 2 identical kimonos of this type.

I belted the kimono with a vintage, silk, gold sash I found in the bargain bin at a thrift store.

Photos by Elena Delaver

♥ Nina Gbor

Insta: @eco.styles