Do you shop for 2nd-hand clothes? You happen to be most likely to be additional trendy

Not only is 2nd-hand searching superior for the planet and your wallet, our new study finds the additional model-mindful you are, the much more very likely you are to store for next-hand outfits and components.

In the 2020-21 economic year, 72% of Australians acquired at minimum one particular item of next-hand apparel – but we preferred to know a lot more about persons who ended up browsing 2nd hand.

It is frequently assumed those who store for 2nd-hand dresses do so to help you save cash or lower their affect on the ecosystem.

In our review, we observed the increased people today amount on style-consciousness, the a lot more very likely they are to shop second hand. In actuality, model-consciousness was a even larger predictor of second-hand procuring than currently being frugal or ecologically-acutely aware.

Design and style-aware buyers are really diverse from vogue-conscious consumers. Vogue is all about the “new”: fashion is a novelty and continually evolving.

Model, on the other hand, is about expressing prolonged-expression personal identification.

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Go through more:
Secondhand outfits product sales are booming – and may possibly aid solve the sustainability disaster in the trend marketplace

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The challenge with trend

Trend consumers are made use of to a ongoing supply of new traits and “fast fashion” products and solutions. Speedy style performs rapidly to replicate an at any time relocating stream of vogue developments, generating significant volumes of low-excellent attire.

The affect of rapid manner on the natural environment is considerable and well-documented. Globally, the fast style business produces 92 million tonnes of squander for each yr and employs 79 trillion litres of h2o. Less than 15% of garments are recycled or reused.

Poorly manufactured and minimal-top quality quickly fashion merchandise are a important issue for charity outlets, who are compelled to ship fast fashion goods they just cannot offer to landfill.

But, going in opposition to this quickly trend development, expanding quantities of persons are purchasing for 2nd-hand garments and equipment.

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Read additional:
‘I can only do so much’: we requested quick-manner buyers how ethical fears shape their alternatives

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A developing sector

It is challenging to identify the sizing of the 2nd-hand current market simply because a lot of product sales consider position in informal configurations these types of as pre-loved marketplaces and on the internet platforms like Facebook Market.

Even so, income data from on line platforms displays an explosion in growth. James Reinhart, CEO of on the web second-hand trend retailer Thredup, has predicted the worldwide second-hand market place will double in the future 5 many years to US$77 billion (A$102 billion).

He also predicts the next-hand current market will be double the dimension of quickly manner by 2030.

More youthful buyers are driving development in recognition of next-hand purchasing, specifically by way of online platforms.

Our study indicates substantially of this development is because of to buyers thinking of on their own to be design and style-mindful.

What would make a next-hand shopper?

We surveyed 515 Australian feminine-identifying individuals hunting at their “orientation” (the desire to behave in a particular way) when it will come to purchasing. Every participant was measured for their orientation in the direction of frugality, how ecologically acutely aware they are, their degree of materialism, how prone they are to nostalgia, their style-consciousness and their fashion-consciousness.

When we identified there are frugal and ecologically-aware second-hand customers, our exploration discovered overwhelmingly that type-consciousness is the best predictor of 2nd-hand trend browsing.

Individuals who scored extremely on the type-consciousness scale were much more possible to store for 2nd-hand dresses than any of the other orientations.

A type-mindful individual expresses by themselves via their clothes. These consumers want garments that enhance their own style and values. They glimpse for genuine and first pieces and stay clear of mainstream trends and rapidly manner.

Design and style-conscious purchasers invest in high-high quality, resilient outfits and add-ons. Even though vogue-conscious purchasers are frequently getting new apparel to keep up with present-day trends, fashion-aware shoppers get dresses that are timeless, perfectly-crafted and make it possible for them to convey their unique id over the very long-phrase.

Common thrift shops run by charities are responding to customer demand, reinventing their outlets with cautiously selected, high-excellent outfits, improved merchandising and keep design and style, on the web gross sales and improved digital and social media marketing and advertising.

The selection of independently owned, extremely-curated “pre-loved” shops and online revenue platforms is also raising.

Social media influencers have driven considerably of this expansion. Their accounts embrace next-hand manner, the circular economy (which highlights reuse, maintenance, repurpose and recycle) and boost the idea of #secondhandfirst.

Helping the planet…with fashion

We hope with escalating numbers of next-hand retailers, markets and on-line platforms advertising a assortment of top quality, pre-loved garments at various value factors for distinct budgets – coupled with the growing acceptance of next-hand shopping – purchasers will consider purchasing 2nd-hand much more generally.

For these who presently embrace “not needing new”, not only are you helping the world – our exploration demonstrates you are also possible to be undertaking it with style.