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You don’t need us to tell you why pre-loved is best, but we’re going to do it anyway. So sit back, relax, and take in all the good bits that choosing pre-loved over new has to offer.
There are tons of reasons why buying pre-loved clothes, shoes and accessories is a fantastic alternative to making new purchases. Keeping things in circulation and out of landfill means less harmful gases, less waste, and less new things needing to be produced.
It’s also a much cheaper way to get your hands on your favourite brands and designs, and when pennies are tight, that kind of saving is pretty exciting.
Shopping sustainably is accessible to everyone. From charity shop bargains to heirloom designer vintage, there’s something out there to fit every budget.
And even though in an ideal world we’d love for everyone’s wardrobes to be completely pre-loved, we know that for a lot of us that’s not going to happen. But if you chose to buy half of your clothes pre-loved instead of new, you could save up to 500lbs of carbon every year.
Why not read the rest of our tips on how to shop sustainably, or how to detox your wardrobe.
1 - IT’S CHEAPER TO BUY PRE-LOVED CLOTHES THAN BUYING NEW
Who doesn’t love a bargain?
In general, choosing to shop pre-loved tends to be cheaper than buying new. At Reskinned we promise that items are generally priced at around 40% lower than their highstreet retail price, and with our state of the art ozone cleansing process and trained merchandisers picking the best pieces for you, shopping pre-loved has never felt more like buying something brand new.
2 - PRE-LOVED CLOTHES ARE GOOD AS NEW
At Reskinned, we take time to care for your items.
Our in-house team of specialist repairers restore pieces that need some extra love, which allows us to keep great clothes out of landfill.
Most of the time our repairs are completely invisible, and we’ll always let you know when an item has gone through the process.
So yes, in our eyes, it’s as good as new, and if it’s not (for example, it has a slight mark or fading), we’ll always be clear about its condition. We’re big fans of visible mending at Reskinned, and want to celebrate clothes that are worn and loved for many years. The clothes of last year are the vintage of next, after all.
3 - PRE-LOVED CLOTHES ARE BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
We should probably make this number one because it really is the most significant reason for buying pre-loved over new.
Our climate and environment is under HUGE pressure to provide the resources needed to sustain the fashion industry as it stands. From excessive water use, to carbon emissions, to toxic waste, to destruction of farmland, to chemical pollution, to negative health consequences for garment workers and cotton farmers, to pretty much everything in between - buying new comes with a whole lot of baggage.
Buying pre-loved, however, is much more simple. It reduces textile waste in landfill, makes the most of what's already in existence and also adds more ethical value to items that have already been on a pretty long journey to end up in your wardrobe.
4 - YOU CAN GET ONE OF A KIND PIECES
There is a particular type of joy that comes with finding an item of clothing that really gives you a serotonin boost.
Hunting for vintage and preloved items can mean you update your wardrobe with something that no one else has, and you find something that feels like it was truly meant for you.
5 - YOU CAN FIND ITEMS YOU MISSED THE FIRST TIME AROUND
We’ve all been there. You saw an item of clothing you quite liked. Maybe you tried it on. Maybe the timing wasn’t quite right. Maybe you thought I’ll have a think about it. Maybe you thought you would wait for the sales to come around. Then boom. It’s been and gone and you keep thinking about it.
Opting to buy pre-loved instead of shopping brand new gives you the opportunity to get that dream item you missed the first time around. You can also discover items you never knew existed from your favourite brands, for a fraction of the original price.
6. YOU’RE SUPPORTING A CIRCULAR FASHION ECONOMY
Whenever you choose to buy something pre-loved, you’re choosing to keep an item in circulation that might otherwise go to landfill.
That’s what circular fashion is all about, and the main focus of Reskinned, and all the work we do. The more time we can keep good clothes worn by people who love them, the more we’re able to slow down the hyper fast fashion industry, and get rid of all the unnecessary waste that the industry is producing.
7 - SHOPPING PRE-LOVED IS GOOD FUN
There’s no better feeling than finding a total bargain at the bottom of a discount bin, or getting your hands on your dream item for a fraction of the retail price.
You never know what you’re going to find when you shop for pre-loved goodies, so it’s all the more exciting when you come across something amazing.
8 - PRE-LOVED FASHION LETS YOU BE EXPERIMENTAL WITH YOUR STYLE
It’s easy to fit into the high street fashion mould and buy the same things as everyone else, but shopping pre-loved instead of new can give you the freedom to explore your personal style free from the trends of today.
What happens if you pair something from the eighties with something from last season? Sometimes magic!
Pre-loved shopping gives us access to a lifetime of trends and designs. It can spark our creativity and encourage us to delve into new style ideas that are uniquely ours, meaning clothes get to be a little bit more fun than they usually would be.
9 - IT MAKES SHOPPING A FEEL GOOD ACTIVITY
Sometimes shopping sprees come with a guilty conscience, but shopping pre-loved can be a guilt free experience.
The knowledge that your purchases are reducing waste and making a positive impact on the environment is a great feeling, and the sense of fulfilment is far superior to the feeling of buying something fast fashion. With every pre-loved purchase you’re aligning your values with your shopping habits.
10 - YOU REDUCE THE DEMAND FOR NEWNESS
The more people who shop pre-loved instead of buying things new, the more we shape the shopping habits of the nation.
Some people still feel shy about shopping pre-loved, so it’s up to us to be brave in telling them all about why it’s so amazing. The more people that get involved in shopping second-hand over new, the more brands will see that it’s an important part of the fashion economy, and they’ll start to offer pre-loved versions of your favourite styles.
Check out our amazing brand partners who have already taken the leap via our takeback scheme.
11 - YOU CAN CELEBRATE YOUR UNIQUENESS
Pre-loved lets you use your style in a truly unique way. Pairing things you love from all eras and trends, you can create outfits that nobody else is wearing.
Your personal magic comes from your uniqueness, and it’s a really empowering thing to start dressing in a way that showcases the true you.
Choose colours, prints and shapes that make you happy, instead of what’s “on-trend” and you’ll start to create a personal image that’s synonymous with you and only you.
12 - YOU SUPPORT BUSINESSES TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING
When you choose pre-loved, you’re choosing to support a business that’s making a difference in the world, and values longevity and the environment, and not just making a profit.
Businesses like ours are passionate about creating a better fashion future, and every time you shop with us, you support our mission. So when you shop second-hand you’re not only supporting the planet, but also small or local businesses, and the people who are trying to do good in the world.
There are so many reasons to shop pre-loved, and they make a powerful case for embracing this sustainable and rewarding way of curating a wardrobe that you love. From the environmental benefits of reducing waste and carbon emissions, to the thrill of finding unique and one-of-a-kind treasures, pre-loved shopping is great on multiple levels.
Not only will you save money, but it also allows you to express your individual style, free of the constraints of mainstream trends. By choosing pre-loved you contribute to a circular fashion economy and support businesses (like ours) who prioritise ethical values.
Are you ready to join in the pre-loved movement?
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