Find your style
‘Think before you buy’ is the New Year’s mantra for 2020. Each week, we buy 38 million articles of clothing of which 11 million are binned.
Love Not Landfill is a campaign that is making clothes recycling easy and accessible for Londoners by running clothes styling and swap events. They recommend a ‘dehaul’ where you drop any unwanted clothes at recycling banks around the city or you can make a bit of extra cash and sell them on vintage clothing sites.
We tried our own dehaul and asked Bristol-based personal stylist Becky Barnes to show us how she’s helping people to shop more sustainably.
Becky Barnes
Becky Barnes is a personal stylist on a mission is to help women create an authentic and sustainable style. Follow her on Twitter @beckybarnesstyle and Instagram
Charity shop tours and clothes swaps are great ways to get acquainted with more sustainable shopping. Personal stylist, Becky Barnes gives special consideration to the environment. She rarely buys new and helps her clients to build a slower approach to fashion. This year she will be donating £2 from every booking to Womankind Bristol, a charity where women are empowering other women by offering support and therapy. Becky spoke to us about shopping, taking it slow, and giving your wardrobe a bit of love.
When did you adopt the slow-fashion lifestyle, and what caused you to make the switch?
I’ve actually been a lover of slow fashion since I was a little girl, I just didn’t realise! The highlight of my year used to be the Scouts jumble sale in the village hall when I was at primary school. I absolutely loved working my way through the mounds of fabrics and textures and pulling out interesting items that took my eye. As I grew older charity shops were my go to and then I also started using buying and selling sites such as eBay and pre-loved clothing boutiques. It was only about 4 years ago when I started to really investigate the environmental impact the fashion industry had that I made the connection between how I naturally shopped and how I wanted to continue to ensure I was treading as lightly as possible on our planet.
What tips would you give to someone brand new to secondhand/vintage shopping?
Firstly, just enjoy the process. Part of the joy of secondhand shopping is the fact that you never know what you’re going to find and I recently heard a quote which really resonated which is ‘you learn to appreciate the trawl as much as the haul’. If you walk away empty handed, that’s OK.
Secondly, start small. Perhaps try and find a beautiful accessory – a pretty vintage necklace or a stunning silk scarf. Then work your way up to a piece of clothing.
Thirdly, when you’re ready to try clothes, look either side of your perceived size. So if you think you’re a size 14, also take a look at the 12s and 16s because sizing varies so much from brand to brand and over periods of time.
How do you decide whether to part with an item or to keep it?
I ask myself a few questions such as:
1: Does it fit or could it be altered to fit?
2: Can I make at least 3 different outfits with it?
3: Do I absolutely love it?
If the answer is no, it’s time to pass it on.
What are your favourite platforms/shops for selling or recycling unwanted clothing?
It really depends on what the item is but local selling sites on Facebook have proved to be a trusty friend. They are especially good as you don’t have the hassle of having to post items out to the buyer. For higher end items I’ve taken them to Village Green or Rag Trade to sell on my behalf and if I haven’t found a buyer, I’ll take them to my local charity shop. If the clothing is past it’s best or damaged beyond repair, I’ll bag them up and take them to my nearest textile recycling point.
What's your favourite item of pre-loved clothing you've bought recently?
I love a fabulous dress so was over the moon to find an unusual blue and red print one on eBay last month. Not only is it beautiful to look at and comfortable to wear but it also has pockets – always a plus point in my eyes!
Can you tell us a bit about the clothes swap?
Little Green Wardrobe is a themed, bi-monthly clothes swapping event. It’s mission is to extend the life-cycle of clothing, therefore positively impacting the environment. It’s a voluntary event where any funds raised are donated to Labour Behind The Label. The next event is on Wednesday 15th January at Kings Weston House in Bristol. (If you missed it, keep an eye out for the next one!) The theme is ‘All things bright and beautiful’ so bring along your unloved colourful clothes and swap them for something different. You can buy a £3 ticket here.
Not based in Bristol? Not to worry. London has plenty of quirky charity shops to explore, and you can find lots of vintage shops in Camden Town. Manchester’s Northern Quarter is also famous for its vintage shops so it’s a great little spot to create your own sustainable shopping tour. Look out for our next post with vintage boutique Emporium of Loveliness, based in Marlborough, Malmesbury and now Bristol.