How to shop for clothes sustainably on a budget

Let’s face it, we can all do with some tips and tricks to help us save some cash when it comes to shopping sustainably. That’s why we’ve put together some pearls of wisdom from the Reskinned office to help you get started on your sustainable fashion journey.

1. BUY (AND SELL) PRE-LOVED CLOTHES

Keeping clothes in circulation is the name of the game when it comes to being a sustainable shopper, so the best thing you can do is make sure that no clothes end up in the bin.

If you’re looking for ways to save money and the planet all in one go (aren’t we all?) then the second-hand market is a great place to start.

With the bargain prices of online peer-to-peer sites, and great quality pieces from your favourite brands on Reskinned at a fraction of retail price, the world of pre-loved really is your oyster.

Whether you’re in the market for some luxury vintage right off the runway, or a discount on the brands you love, budget-savvy shoppers can shop their hearts out knowing that they’re making a more sustainable choice than buying brand new.

GET RID OF OLD CLOTHES (SUSTAINABLY)

Doing a clear out is a great way to audit what you actually have, meaning you can shop more consciously and wear the things you’ve forgotten about. There are a few key ways to go about getting rid of the old stuff in a sustainable fashion.

BECOME A TAKEBACK SUPERSTAR

We couldn’t do what we do without the people who choose to take part in a takeback scheme.

By shipping off your old clothes, shoes and accessories to us via one of our takeback partners, you can be sure that we’ll figure out the best route for them. Whether that’s finding them a new home, repairing them or recycling them into something new, nothing goes to landfill, and you’ve done your bit for the planet.

And of course, you’ll get a voucher to spend on one of your favourite eco-conscious brands. That cheeky discount will help you save the pennies!

GET SELLING YOUR OLD CLOTHES

One person’s trash is another’s treasure, and that counts for yours too. Swap out your dusty old stuff that you rarely wear, and you can exchange that money for some new sustainable pieces.

Whether you opt to sell online, or in person at a car boot sale or market, you can turn a profit, and give your old stuff a new chance to shine.

You’re helping other people pick pre-loved instead of buying something new, which has a knock on effect.

2. BUY LESS, AND BUY BETTER

There’s loads of ways you can make your shopping habits more sustainable. But when it comes down to it, there’s only one real answer - and it’s a simple one: buy less, and buy better quality.

Instead of filling your wardrobe with “okay” items that you aren’t excited to wear, take time to build a wardrobe full of things you truly love and are going to want to wear over and over again.

Opt for timeless pieces when you shop that transcend trends. That way they’ll stay in your wardrobe for the longest time possible, and you’ll keep reaching for them.

When it comes to creating a capsule wardrobe of timeless clothes, it’s worth remembering that you are a unique person with unique tastes and style. Just because someone recommends a classic white shirt as their must-have timeless piece doesn’t mean it’s the right thing for you.

It could be that picking a multi-coloured, wildly patterned pair of dungarees fits your style better, and you know these are the kind of timeless purchase that you’ll love and choose up until you’re wrinkly.

Approaching shopping for clothes mindfully will allow you to save money in the long run, and also reduce your need for brand new stuff all the time. Getting to know your personal style is a fun journey, and it’s worth more than trends.

THE BREAKDOWN OF COST-PER-WEAR

The concept of cost-per-wear is a fancy way of evaluating how much something costs against how often you’ll actually wear it. Cost-per-wear demonstrates how valuable an item is to invest in for longevity instead of fleeting trends or upfront savings.

For example, that really great deal that made the designer dress only £100 instead of £200 doesn’t sound quite as good when you consider you’ve only had the chance to wear it once (cashing in at a pricey £100 per wear).

And the slightly expensive eco-friendly bamboo t-shirt now feels like a steal at £45, even though it was pricey up front, because you’ve worn it over 30 times (cashing in at only £1.50 per wear).

CHOOSE PRE-LOVED FASHION

And if buying high quality stuff still feels out of your budget, we get it. It can be expensive, and for some of us it’s just not attainable.

Choosing pre-loved instead of shopping for brand new items means you can get great quality pieces at a fraction of the cost. Look out for brands you know are good quality, and you’ll be able to save money while still buying the best quality that you can.

3. AVOID IMPULSE SHOPPING

Before buying something new, try to take 24 hours to think about it. If you’re still thinking about it and it feels like a good decision after that time, go ahead and buy it.

Shopping can be an addiction, and curbing the cravings by taking some time and space will save you money, and stop you from filling your wardrobe with an endless supply of bad decisions.

If you’re brave, you could even try a no-spend-challenge (where you make a pledge to not buy any new clothes for a set period of time), to go cold turkey on unhealthy habits and help you fall back in love with your own wardrobe.

4. REPAIR AND MEND TO LOOK AFTER THE LONGEVITY OF YOUR CLOTHES

We know, it’s easy to throw something away when it’s ripped or stained. It’s time-consuming to sit down with a needle and thread and sew up a hole, or add a patch to something that has a tear.

But put it this way - it’s more time consuming for you to work the amount of hours required to buy a new garment to replace one that’s ripped or broken.

There’s something beautiful about being able to slow down and dedicate time to repairing something you’ve loved a lot. It helps you to value the love and time that’s gone into your clothes, and can even be a nice way to spruce it up if you’re getting bored of something you’ve had for a while.

And if you’re just not the kind of person who’s going to do it yourself, that’s okay too. Bag up all the things you need to fix, take them to your local tailor and invest a little bit of money into keeping them looking fresh, and supporting your local community.

By repairing what you already have, you reduce your need to shop for new things, therefore saving you money.

5. RENT OUTFITS FOR BIG EVENTS

The clothing rental market in the UK has been popping off lately, and rightly so. Renting something to wear for a one off big event could be a great sustainable and budget friendly option.

Occasion wear can be pretty expensive to say the least. So Instead of shelling out on a pricey dress or suit, check out one of the many rental websites and see if you can borrow one. You can rent clothes for a night, or for months, it’s really up to you and what you need.

And the great thing is that the outfit you would only have worn one time will be worn again and again, which makes it a more sustainable solution.

6. SET UP A CLOTHES SWAP

Have you got friends with loads of great clothes that you wouldn’t mind adding to your wardrobe? Why not set up a clothes swap to update your style for the grand price of… absolutely nothing?

Swap the things you no longer need or want for the pieces that they are ready to say goodbye to, and suddenly you’ll have some great new clothes, without having to spend any money.

And of course, you reduce the need to buy new things, and give good clothes a second life - so the sustainability box is well and truly ticked.

7. BUY FROM SUSTAINABLE CLOTHING BRANDS OFF-SEASON

Save your pennies by shopping in the off-season for your favourite sustainable brands. Yes, you might not need a winter coat in July, but by bagging a great quality one in the summer sale for half the price, you’ll be able to afford the brands that make great quality clothes, which you’ll keep for many winters to come.

Keep a list of things you need for next season, and when you see one of your favourite brands on sale, approach with an open mind.

Classic basics are always a good idea, and you can get pretty good deals on swimwear, knitwear and coats when you buy them at the “wrong” time of year.

IN CONCLUSION…

Shopping sustainably on a budget doesn’t have to be a difficult task. By checking out the pre-loved market, making more mindful shopping decisions and taking things slooooooooowly, we can all do our part for a more sustainable fashion future.

Shop pre-loved here.