Every year we throw away more than 92 million tons of clothing worldwide, which would be equivalent to a truckload of textiles every second.
Fast fashion brands have joined this new sustainable fashion trend, but unfortunately, these collections pollute almost exactly the same as conventional lines. The reason: They belong to the same business model, a model that focuses on consumerism and cheap and precarious labor, ignoring in most cases both the conditions of garment workers and the clear environmental objectives that scientist we have been proposed to fight against climate change.
Therefore, the most sustainable option is to use what already exists. Of course, we must start with our own wardrobe by online shopping in Pakistan especially for clothes, since in reality most of us have more clothes than we need.
TIPS FOR BUYING SECOND HAND
However, if we decide to choose to consume a garment, it is a great choice to opt for a second-hand one. To do it well, we must take into account the following points:
1. BEST OF NATURAL FIBERS
Try to opt for natural fibers whenever possible, especially when it comes to garments that we are going to put in the washing machine. Synthetic fibers release small microplastics that usually end up in the sea, and for this reason, it is always a better option to opt for natural fabrics even when we consume second-hand.
If for any reason we buy something synthetic, we must wash it in what is known as a guppy bag, a bag that traps the microplastics that clothing releases when washed.
2. DON’T LOOK FOR THE PERFECT SIZE, ADJUST THE GARMENT
Don’t rule anything out simply because it’s too long or doesn’t fit like a glove. The best trick to buy second-hand is to do it thinking that any garment can be easily altered to make it fit you as well as possible.
Bearing in mind that we normally save money when we buy second-hand, we can invest a little money in taking it to the seamstress in our neighborhood to raise the hem of those jeans that fit perfectly at the waist, or to fit the waist to that dress that has the print of our dreams. Also, like this, we help small local businesses.
3. SEARCH WITH A UNISEX MENTALITY
Forget about menswear or womenswear, buy ladies western wear in Pakistan now. Clothes are clothes, and they have no gender. I myself have found some of my most precious second-hand clothes in the “men’s” section, including oversized shirts and jackets, which by the way are very fashionable right now.
4. COME OFTEN TO SEE THE NEWS
Ask the store when they receive new stock and visit as often as possible. We can do this not to consume regularly, but to make sure we find the specific garment we are looking for.
The second hand is a lottery, and often, if we are looking for a very specific garment, it is very unlikely that we will find it the first time. So before you decide to buy something new or fast fashion
5. CONSIDER BUYING ONLINE
Today there are numerous apps to buy second-hand. Each application is managed differently. Some are like online stores, and others simply consist of garments that individuals upload to their own profile.
In any case, we must bear in mind that buying second-hand online will almost always be more sustainable than buying something new. Of course, we must take into account the contamination of transport until that garment reaches our hands, but we must not forget that contamination goes far beyond transport.
We often underestimate the amount of resources that a new garment needs to be made, such as raw materials, water, chemical processes, accessories (buttons, zippers, etc.)… and that’s not counting the pollution from transporting all these materials to the place where they are made. , from there to the warehouse and from the warehouse to the point of sale.
