When you think of saving money on clothing, fast fashion might be your first idea. However, there are plenty of other ways you can fill your wardrobe with clothing more sustainably. In this article, we take a look at some of the ways you can save money on clothing and also shop sustainably.
Using charity shops
If you prefer to be able to see, touch and try on items before buying them but also want to save money, you can check out your charity shops. These are full of secondhand items and some new items that people have donated so that the charity can make some additional money. Many items people donate still have their tags on and haven’t been worn; you can get a really good bargain if you’re prepared to look around and wait for something suitable to get donated. Visit a few different charity shops in your area to see what each of them has in your size.
Kilo sales
Many cities and towns run kilo events for vintage clothing. When you turn up, you get a bag; you choose the items you want, and then you pay based on the weight, not by the cost of each item. The key to these events is to turn up early to get your hands on the best items. You can save a significant amount of money; much of the clothing is secondhand, too, so you’ll be stopping it from going into landfill sites.
Make or adjust clothing
If you’re willing to learn to sew, you can make your own sustainable clothing from the fabrics you choose. Alternatively, if making your own clothing from scratch is too much, you can adjust and adapt clothing items to make them suitable for your shape and size. Take a look at your current wardrobe; there are probably lots of items that either need repairing or are slightly too big or too small. If you learn to sew and repair clothing, you can create new outfits for a fraction of the cost of buying new ones. Additionally, it’s a really useful skill to have when you shop for secondhand clothing; you can buy items that are too big and adapt them to fit your current size.
Clearance sales
If you prefer to buy new clothing, you can still get a good deal if you buy items at the right time. Many brands have end-of-season clearance sales where they sell off all of their old stock. This is the perfect time to get your hands on a bargain. For example, when the weather starts getting warmer, you might see a cashmere clearance. Investing in a designer cashmere item in the clearance will save you lots of money. You might not wear it right away, but it will be ready for you next year when the weather gets cold again. Many savvy shoppers choose to buy their clothing in the wrong season and save it until next year to save money.
Buying secondhand clothes
There is nothing wrong with buying secondhand clothes; you can get designer items at a fraction of the price you’d pay if you purchased them new. There are many more options now for people to sell their clothes second-hand, which means there are more second-hand clothing items on the market. Finding the items you want in your size can take a bit longer, but it is worth the extra effort. Especially when you manage to get designer items for a fraction of the price you’d usually pay, make sure you pay attention to the quality of the clothing before buying; if repairs aren’t something you’re comfortable with, avoid anything that has issues. In addition, look at the reviews of the seller to ensure they’re selling genuine items and have had positive feedback from previous customers. Read more about buying second-hand clothing in this article from The Guardian: Cheap, cool and kind to nature; how secondhand became UK fashion’s main attraction.
Fast fashion is very bad for the environment, and the clothing doesn’t last long. This list provides several much better ways to buy clothing sustainably and save money. Don’t knock sales and secondhand clothing until you’ve taken a look at what is available.
Filmly 