I love dressing up. There is nothing like a well-constructed dress to make me feel great for the rest of the day. But I didn’t fall in love with clothing until I started dating my current partner, and he took me into the world of thrifting. I had bought some clothes second-hand before nothing like him. He taught me all sorts of tips and tricks and now, almost six years later, nearly my entire wardrobe is second-hand.

Perks of being a thrifter.

Buying second-hand has many perks. First off, it’s way cheaper. I am able to buy much nicer, higher quality clothes in a thrift shop than I ever could in a store new. One problem I hear many people complain about when they go thrifting is that they can never find anything, which I understand. It’s hit or miss sometimes. But I have grown to love the hunt, I am completely addicted to the feeling of finding something beautiful at a fraction of the cost.

Buying second-hand is also a much more sustainable way to shop. If you are a consumer who wants to buy clothes new but also wants to shop sustainably, you have to be willing to dig deep into your pockets. And there is nothing wrong with that. One of my favourite pieces that I bought new is a coat from BC brand Anian, a “circular fashion company” that repurposes old materials into new clothes. And although companies like Anian may be sustainable for the environment, they are not sustainable for my bank account. Which is why I love thrifting.

The tough parts.

Thrifting can be more work though. It takes time to riffle through racks of clothes filled with blouses only your grandmother would wear, and with thrifting becoming so popular it gets harder to find things. Thrifting can also be a challenge for sizes. I am fortunate that I can almost always find things in my size, except for shoes. Shoes are one of the things I usually buy new, simply because my size isn’t very common.

Also, when I buy pieces second-hand, I sometimes need to do some minor adjustments. Whether a pair of pants need to be taken in or a button replaced, this also takes time. But these adjustments allow me to get to know the piece better. I get to explore it, mend it, and really make it mine.

An example.

So let’s get into it. Last Tuesday I went to a clothing swap with some of my friends, (we all bring clothes we are no longer wearing and trade) and I picked up two coats when I was there. On one the lining was completely ripped and was missing a button, and the other had shoulder pads. I also have one of my partner’s shirts that has a larger rip up the back that I will mend.

On coat number one I removed the liner, I am not sure if I plan to replace it or not, but for now, I am going to leave it. I also replaced all the buttons with these gold ones I found at the Button & Needlework Boutique in Trounce Alley downtown Victora. The owner of the store told me they were from Czechia and I just happened to pick ones that were 50% off (score!).

My partners’ shirt was easy to sew up by hand, but it took a lot of time. I used an embroidery hoop to keep everything in place while I sewed. I think it turned out pretty well! There’s a small hole I still need to fix, but I will do that once I find a nice patch.

Here’s the end result.

In conclusion.

I think it is important to take care of the things we have, and take the opportunity to use art to upcycle old things and make them our own. New clothing takes a massive hit on our Earth, so why not try shopping second-hand!