Sustainable Fashion & Secondhand

Who would have thought: The fashion industry is extremely polluting. Within a year, the production of various textiles and clothing releases over a billion tons of CO2. This is more greenhouse gases in one year than air and ship transport cause.

Among other things, this is encouraged by the fact that clothing is being manufactured ever faster and cheaper. In total, over 100 billion parts are produced annually worldwide. This industry is also known as fast fashion, so to speak the McDonalds and Burger Kings of the fashion world.

These include brands such as Zara, H&M, Primark and TopShop, which despite environmentally harmful influences and inhumane, dangerous working conditions for their workers, continue to produce clothing in emerging countries without controls, using the cheapest chemicals and materials. And all for the simple reason that they can more profit.

It's the crowd that matters

We buy new clothes more frequently than ever. Every few weeks, completely new collections are launched in Fast Fashion. As a result, clothing production has doubled in recent years , while the actual wearing time of the parts has halved. Fashion no longer has to be a luxury product, but has become an environmentally harmful, disposable product.

We can change it

The problem is that the fashion industry has no incentive to change so long as they continue assuming customers will buy their products despite dirty methods and harmful effects.

But we have a choice. As consumers, we determine demand, influence the numbers and ultimately force the big brands to change. So if you still want to wear the big brands or just the favourite parts, you can do so without putting the money in their pockets. By buying used, not only can you keep wearing these big brands but also conserve resources.

How does second hand shopping work?

The good news, for everyone who does not want to browse, continue to dress fashionably or simply want to have a new favourite item in the closet every now and then: Second-hand shopping has never been easier! Especially today, in the age of digitisation, in addition to the usual second-hand and charity shops in your own town, you can also comfortably buy a new coat or a pair of shoes from your sofa. These include classic sites, such as  eBay classified ads, Facebook Marketplace  and etsy, on which used parts are sold by private individuals to private individuals.

Flea market love

In addition, for the passion seekers among you, there is of course also the opportunity to shop at flea markets. Especially in summer, these take place regularly on weekends in the open air. Take a look at Facebook under Events near you and you will surely find what you are looking for.

The advantage of such markets is that people like you and I sell their clothes. Pupils and students in particular get their money's worth here. The likelihood of finding something there for a fraction of the price you would have had to pay in the store.

Thanks to Marie Kondo and the minimalism movement, more and more people are sorting out clothes on a regular basis. In addition, vintage and second-hand parts are in vogue, used clothing is the next trend. You can find parts that are as up-to-date as in the shops. And you protect the environment, your wallet and give a piece of clothing a second chance.

Please don't throw it away

If you want to get rid of clothes yourself, this is also a great way to get a little money for the once loved pieces. If you don't feel like the effort of selling, please don't just throw your clothes away, but donate or become creative and make new things out of them; Cleaning rags, reusable make-up pads, make long pants short - the list is long. Finally, there is the opportunity to organise dress exchange parties with friends. Everyone brings sorted parts with them and then everyone can choose what they like.