Why Secondhand Apparel Is The Next Big Thing In The Fashion Industry
If you’ve ever considered buying secondhand clothing, this article is just for you. Let’s start by exploring why thrifting is so popular. Then we’ll take a look at the rise of fast fashion and its negative impacts. Finally, we’ll discuss what secondhand apparel is, how the secondhand market has evolved, and who its challengers are.
Why Thrifting is So Popular
Shopping for vintage or thrift clothing has become a lifestyle choice for many. For those who want to stay on top of the latest trends or freshen up their wardrobe, thrift shopping is a good option. The best part? It won’t cost you a bomb.
Here are a few reasons why thrift clothing is becoming increasingly popular.
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Saves Money
Buying used clothes is a no-brainer if you are on a budget or want to save some money. Many people have the misconception that thrift clothing is of inferior quality or is in poor condition and therefore costs less. That’s not true.
Visit a bulk thrift store, and you will see that many items are new or lightly used and are in excellent condition. The next time you plan on buying clothes, go to your nearest thrift store instead of shopping online or at the mall. You will find some unique, rare, and amazing pieces, and your bank account will also thank you.
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Unique Style
Everyone is unique. Your unique style should reflect your unique personality. How do you develop your style when you buy only mass-manufactured clothes?
Thrifted and vintage clothes are one-of-a-kind. If you want to make a fashion statement by trying something out of your comfort zone, you can do it by buying secondhand. Whether you like to be over-the-top or minimalist, artsy or sporty, you can always find something that you like at a bulk thrift store.
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Makes Life Interesting
“Hey, nice shirt!”
“Thanks! It's vintage.”
Wearing used clothes was once looked down upon. Not anymore. Thrifting is now considered cool. If you have been buying thrifted clothes, you will know that it keeps things interesting.
A bulk thrift store is very different from a local store or a mall. You will not find multiple pieces in the same style hanging on the racks. Each piece is unique. If you want to pick the best pieces, you need to be on your toes. Thrifting also keeps you guessing what you will find next, and that is an experience in itself. When you find an amazing vintage shawl or dress, you can’t help but wonder about its history. Thrifting can add to the child-like wonder that many of us are missing in our lives.
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Sustainable
Sustainability and going green are new-age mantras. People worldwide are becoming more aware and are looking for sustainability, whether in investments or fashion.
Thrifting is a more sustainable option than fast fashion. It eliminates the need to bring in new material and the need for additional manufacturing. Did you know that less than 1% of the materials used for making clothes are recycled for making new clothing? You also don’t need labor to make the clothes.
When no new clothes are made, there is no carbon emission during transportation, and no money is needed for marketing. Thrifting reuses a pre-existing garment, extending its life span. It keeps the garment on the market at a decent profit with minimal environmental and social costs.
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Great for The Environment
When you shop for bulk thrift clothing, you reduce the demand for new clothing. Lesser demand means there is less pressure on companies to produce large volumes of clothes for profit. Thrifting also ensures that clothes get reused instead of ending up in landfills. Also, when you buy a clothing piece based on your judgment instead of fashion trends, you will not easily tire of it.
The Rise of Fast Fashion
Consumers are always looking for trendy fashion outfits. Clothing brands see this as an opportunity to frequently push new products into the market. In the past, most brands introduced new models in conjunction with fashion shows conducted in every season of every year. With the emergence of mechanization, companies can convert designs into final products very quickly. Mass production facilities also ensure that there is bulk availability of these garments in retail shops. Together, these elements contribute towards the growth of a fast-fashion ecosystem.
The Negative Impacts of Fast Fashion
You will be surprised to know that the fashion industry is the second most polluting industry in the world. The fashion industry uses 93 billion cubic meters of water per year, enough to meet the requirements of 5 million people. After all this, 84% of clothing ends up in landfills or incinerators. According to UNCTAD, 33% of carbon dioxide emissions can be prevented by expanding the life cycle of materials through recycling, reusing, and repurposing. These carbon emissions arise from transportation due to the long distance supply chain. The discharge of effluents from textile factories also pollutes water bodies. Finally, due to bulk production requirements, the industry is notorious for its poor standards of labor work.
The Secondhand Market: The Future of Sustainable Fashion
The fashion industry is all set to embrace a new business model. Unlike fast fashion, this model relies on ethical and environmental standards in textile production. Yes, the rise of circular fashion will be a true game-changer in setting sustainability standards in the fashion industry. The concept of secondhand fashion is majorly driving the demand for circular fashion. Many wholesale vintage clothing suppliers are enabling the appropriate ecosystem for secondhand clothing. They are instrumental in setting the standard for bulk procurement, segregation, and recycling used clothes.
The current global secondhand clothing market is valued at US$36 billion. Similarly, more resellers are now open to selling secondhand clothes through their shops. On the consumer side, the idea of responsible consumption is also picking up. According to a recent survey, more than 86% of consumers were open to trying used clothes. Most importantly, all major fashion brands are jumping on the circular fashion bandwagon by introducing ethical labels. In short, the secondhand clothing sector will be the flag bearer of sustainable fashion in the coming years.
Benefits of Adopting Secondhand Clothing
The secondhand clothing sector is making the fashion industry more sustainable and ethical. Moreover, it is offering a collaborative model where both the producer and the consumer take responsibility. In a way, such a model is crucial for attaining a gamut of environmental benefits. The future of the secondhand clothing industry opens up possibilities for the following:
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Responsible consumption model
Consumer behavior is the key driver of any industry. In the fashion sector, the move towards circular fashion is very much driven by consumers. Nowadays, there is a huge demand for recycled and upcycled clothes and accessories. Customers are becoming increasingly aware of apparel production’s ecological impact and are now demanding businesses commit to sustainability. By purchasing used clothing, these customers have an answer to the problems of fast fashion.
When they buy used clothing, it extends the life of the piece of clothing. In fact, even higher quality clothing that is sold in the secondhand market has a high value over time; which is not the case for fast-fashion products. These trends are a testimony of the bright future of secondhand clothing. Similarly, many designers are giving a premium touch to the used clothing segment with innovative designs. Most resellers can access these designs through wholesale vintage clothing suppliers.
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Environmental Conservation
Secondhand clothes play a crucial role in transforming the fashion industry. It is indeed the primary step towards achieving sustainability in fashion. The use of secondhand clothes avoids their piling up in landfills. By adopting recycling practices, companies can minimize their water and energy consumption.
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Low Cost
In the fashion world, the quest for new designs often comes with a hefty price tag. With used clothes, there is a considerable reduction in the processes involved in production. On the other hand, wholesale vintage clothing suppliers are procuring secondhand clothes at bulk rates. These factors help bring down the cost to a great extent. As a result, consumers get access to trendy designs at cheap rates.
Vintage Fashion – A Challenger in the Secondhand Industry
LA Vintage is one of such challengers. They’ve been at the forefront of sustainable fashion for more than 28 years. They are a vintage clothing warehouse located in Los Angeles. Recently, they transitioned from selling vintage clothing online to becoming a wholesaler exclusively. Instead of selling vintage clothing through their eCommerce site directly to their customers, they focus on selling wholesale vintage clothing to retailers from all over the world.
Because of this, they have been able to expand their operation and find the most unique items for retailers who want a competitive price on vintage items in bulk. This move will allow this American used clothing company to expand its operation and choose only the most unique items for retailers seeking a competitive price on bulk vintage items.
Adopting sustainability practices is the need of the hour across industries, as secondhand markets are increasing in popularity every day. The fashion industry is leading the sustainability revolution by promoting the use of secondhand clothes. The role of wholesale vintage clothing suppliers is very significant in this. Customers buying secondhand for their small business need access to a wide range of unique and affordable clothing.
Visit LA Vintage Wholesale for the best collection of vintage clothing, shoes, and accessories.
