Fionnuala Jay is no stranger to our screens. She regularly appears on the Six O’Clock Show on Virgin Media, and it’s almost guaranteed that she’ll pop up on your Instagram or TikTok feed.
The self-styled “Love Island freak”, admitted she was once a slave to a sale and hated the idea of outfit repeating. Bhe started to panic about the impact fast fashion had on the environment and gave herself a challenge: not to shop fast fashion for a year.
She told Dublin Live: “I was in an absolute panic about the environment and was trying to think of other ways I could help. I was getting really weary about the impact fast fashion was having on our planet so I said I’d try not to buy fast fashion for a year - I kind of did it as a challenge and then I just kept it up.
Read more: 'Second hand shopping isn’t gross - the clothes are perfect and much cheaper'
“I always had that love for vintage fashion but I was still someone who was a slave to a sale, loved cheap clothes and loved getting them as cheap as possible. I loved to buy new things for new events, I wasn’t an outfit repeater, I hated the thought of it - but with fast fashion I was finding the clothes weren’t lasting. So I did the challenge and I just kept it up.”
So how does Fionnuala get on and get by shopping sustainable? Her top tips include:
Deleting fast fashion apps
She said: “You need to delete the apps and unsubscribe from the newsletters because you’re going to fall for it if the temptation is there. I’d still follow a lot of fashion sites because I like taking influence from them.
“But if you’re tempted by them, maybe mute them, unfollow them and go back to them when you can take things for inspiration and you’re not going to be filling your basket.
Clear out your wardrobe
She said: “It goes back to looking at what you already own, start a wardrobe cleanout, look at what you’re wearing and what you’re not and give it a new life. Pass it on to friends or family, sell it or donate it and reduce what you have.
“You don’t need as much clothes as you have. You don’t need something new for every occasion. Consider what you already have, can you borrow something, can you rent something, it’s about taking that step back.”
From looking at Fionnuala’s Instagram, it’s clear that her clothes are as stylish as ever and they’re having less of an impact on the environment as she’s giving old items a new life. Her clothes are better quality, more original, more appreciated and she definitely saves more money in the long run from shopping secondhand.
“I think I’ve more appreciation for my clothes now,” Fionnuala added. “I love the pieces I have now, I'm not shopping as much. Anyone thinking of doing something like this doesn’t have to go as cold turkey as me.
“It’s not about replacing your wardrobe, you just need to look at what you already have and see if you can give it a new life.”
Fionnuala will be making an appearance at Happy Day's swap shop for Secondhand September. You can get your tickets here.
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