My Second Hand Clothing Journey

The fast fashion industry is built on the marketing model of psychological manipulation to convince consumers that you are not good enough. Trends fly in and out and with it, cheap clothing fills up landfills. We have fallen into the trap that we need more and we need cheap. What about changing our mindsets towards simpler, concise closets with clothing that will last trends and time?

Expensive, ethical clothing may be desired, but for those whose paychecks and allowance cannot support an expensive lifestyle, having this closet with quality clothing can seem unreachable. However, there is a way to be eco-conscious, have quality, stylish clothing, and not break the bank. It’s called consigning. Thrifting may scare some people who think that it will take hours to find anything decent in a massive thrift store. Consigning is a type of thrifting in which stylists pick specific clothing from sellers to put on their racks, so the clothing is selected for its quality, uniqueness, and style.

I consign at My Sister’s Closet in San Diego. I have found Rag & Bone jeans at $25, Free People sweaters at $15, and Top Shop dresses at $10. It is very possible to find stylish pieces at consignment stores that aim to provide shoppers with quality options. Many times I have sold clothing and with that store credit, not even had to pay for a day’s worth of shopping. Sometimes I will even re-consign items if after a year I have found myself not loving the piece anymore. Keeping this circular economy of fashion going will ensure that the energy and material put into making an individual piece will not be for waste and will not fill landfills.

Each outfit below features consigned clothing! The Zara red dress, the Free People black blouse, the white Rag & Bone jeans, the Rebecca Taylor purple top, the Top Shop white tank were all consigned at My Sister’s Closet.