In an attempt to be more resourceful, spending less money on clothes while also trying to be more eco-conscious, I started looking at ways that I could shop more sustainably. The term ‘fast-fashion’ has been etched into my mind, as well as so many other young shoppers these days, so much so I can’t help but feel a pang of guilt anytime I order from fashion giants.
If you're not entirely sure of what fast-fashion means, it is a relatively new phenomenon in the fashion industry with a criticism that is causing damage to the planet.
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Not exactly what runs through your mind when you’re sifting through sale racks.
Thankfully, the world of tech has made it so much easier to buy clothes sustainably if you don’t have time to be rummaging through charity or vintage shops.
With apps like Vinted or Depop, you can buy clothes for a fraction of the price they were bought at with the click of a button.
Vinted was such an easy app to use to find what I’d been looking for. You can filter your searches to find clothes that still had the tag on them or had only been worn a few times, which obviously is great for ensuring your item is store-quality.
Using Vinted I was able to buy a denim jacket, a pair of heels, leather leggings and a bodysuit for £13.50 plus shipping.
This was my first time ever ordering from the app (have used Depop before) and honestly I was quite happy with the outcome.
While the outfit isn’t the most stylish or cohesive, that’s purely down to my taste (or lack thereof!) - I just wanted to prove to myself it is possible to get an outfit for under £20.
River Island heels
Item: £4
Postage: £2.89
Buyers Protection: 90p
Discount: £1.40
The shoes are a pair from River Island and I have to say I was most impressed with these. There is little to no wear on them and considering shoes from River Island normally retail roughly between £50-70, this purchase was definitely a steal.
Missguided acid wash oversized denim jacket
Item cost: £5
Postage: £2.89
Buyers Protection: 95p
I really liked the denim jacket I got. It’s an acid wash oversized denim jacket from Missguided and has been worn by the seller. I will say going by the pictures the seller took, I didn’t think it would have that many rips in it as part of the look, but I still quite like the jacket - would wear it on a warmer evening.
River island bodysuit
Item: £2.50
Postage: £2.89
Buyer Protection: 83 p
Another item I purchased that was originally from River Island is a black bodysuit with gold hoops going down the centre. Again, I suppose one of the downsides of online shopping is not being able to try the item on before buying. I didn’t think the top would be as low cut, however, there were hundreds of the staple wardrobe item on Vinted to choose from and for £2.50 I saw it as another River Island bargain.
Brand new leather look leggings
Item: £2
Postage: £2.89
Buyers Protection: 80p
Leather leggings are another wardrobe must have, so I was delighted to buy this funky pair for just £2. These leggings from CherryKoko have never been worn and came with the tags on.
In total I spent just over £27 including buyers protection and postage for the complete rig out.
I would definitely recommend people to buy from Vinted, but keep in mind items you have your eye on can move fast if you don't act quick enough.
There is also the added disadvantage that unlike shopping from websites like PrettyLittleThing, you can't exchange the item if the size doesn't fit, but other than that, it is an extremely good way to buy clothes sustainably and save your bank account in the meantime.
Also, it's a great way to declutter your wardrobe if you have things you don't wear anymore, while making a bit of extra cash.
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