Buying into the circular economy

I’d like to start out by admitting that shopping for second-hand products is something that is relatively new to me. I would love to claim that I am an avid, life-long thrifter, but sadly that simply isn’t the case. I’m a creature of convenience, a millennial that is used to having everything I need just a click away. 

I’ve grown up with an internet that has adapted to the most convoluted of search terms ‘white cotton midi dress with short sleeves and lace collar’ as well as during a time that has seen the rise of fast fashion mega giants. All this to say that spending time trawling through racks of second-hand goods just simply wasn’t my thing.  

This need for newness, to be on top of the latest fashion trends, is something that consumed me for most of my young adult life. When large online retailers first popped onto my radar, I was amazed by the sheer volume of stock and ability to churn out the latest styles faster than any other high street store. 

I never really stopped to question why or how these retailers were able to turn around product so quickly and at such little cost. (Although I’m sure at the time I must have had some inkling.) Stories of factories collapsing and notes pleading for help found in clothing items had started to permeate through to the mainstream. They were met by words of anger and condolence online. However, they seemed to make little impact on the shopping habits of the masses, myself included.  

I’m not sure when it clicked exactly but in recent years, I have started to become far more conscious of what I purchase and where I purchase it from. I would be lying if I said I never darkened the doors of any high street stores however I now make a far greater effort to shop with intent.  

That’s where a shop such as Salvos Stores comes in. With a wider range of product than any other retailer out there and new items dropped in the daily, I can easily find pieces that I love safe in the knowledge that I am doing good with my dollar. Shopping pre-loved means, I can find items that I am unlikely to find elsewhere and at a much better price! 

One of my most coveted finds has to be my docs which I found in an op shop 10 years ago and still wear to this day. Now that’s some serious cost per wear efficiency! 

I’ll admit searching through stock has taken a little getting used to but it’s always worth it in the end. The additional benefit of shopping at Salvos Stores is knowing that the money I spend is going directly into programs and services that help the wider community.  

We live in a time where it is more critical than ever to reduce the amount of waste we produce, and shopping at Salvos Stores means keeping product in circulation for longer.

Did you know that extending the life of an item of clothing by nine months reduces its water, waste and carbon footprint by 20 percent? So next time you’re looking for an outfit, consider shopping second hand and do more with your dollar.