6 Reasons Why Pre-Loved Fashion Is The Hottest Craze

We are in the year of pre-loved fashion, and I know you’re going to absolutely love this movement as much as we do at Current Boutique!

Do you want to strut your stuff in high-end, luxury brands?

And want to wear the hottest trends and the most classic styles?

Do you want to invest in quality clothing and accessories that will actually increase in value?

And do you want to promote a more sustainable, eco-friendly closet?

Do you want to wear healthier clothes made with superior materials and fewer chemicals?

Do you want to totally upgrade your wardrobe and lifestyle?

…And do want to do all that at a fraction of the actual cost?

Of course you do! Women across the nation have this desire for high luxury and gorgeous fashion at a low-cost to their wallets, health, and the environment.

That’s where secondhand clothing comes in. “Pre-loved fashion” is a term that refers to high-end, designer used clothing items. You’ll find these in consignment shops both in stores and online, just like Current Boutique!

Why is pre-loved fashion so popular and booming this year?

1. Fast fashion isn’t sustainable

Sustainability is one of the top motivators for the push towards pre-loved fashion. Today’s consumer is becoming more aware of the dangerously high consumption of goods, especially textiles, in our nation. In fact, there’s more than 15 million tons of sed textile waste in America every year.

“Fast fashion” has become the norm: low quality goods produced in mass quantities, offered at low prices in big retail stores. This lets customers be “on trend” and ditch items after the season is over (or after the item has fallen apart).

But fast fashion produces low quality in high volumes—which is horriblefor the environment. There are three major ways this isn’t sustainable:

• There is a high amount of energy expended in factories to make these goods. The amount of water, electricity, and natural resources used to churn out these products is astronomical. Higher end designers tend to have more handmade elements and safer creation processes, which keeps the expenditure of energy to a minimum.
• Most fast fashion is made from synthetic compounds. It’s these “fake” materials that make the product so inexpensive (natural materials come at a cost in today’s fashion world). Synthetic clothing can take hundreds of years to decompose, so they end up sitting in landfills and letting off mass amounts of carbon dioxide.
• The labor itself often isn’t sustainable. A number of big retailers actually use sweatshops, which force people to work long hours in bad conditions to mass produce fast fashion. This is both inhumane and bad for the environment.

But there’s a solution to this grim situation. Buying pre-loved fashion reduces your contribution to this unsustainable fashion market. You’re not buying low-quality fast fashion made of non-decomposable materials that just go to waste after a year. You’re saving an outfit from ending up in the dumpster—and in return you get quality, gorgeous clothes that can last for years to come!

2. There’s value in de-cluttering.

The trend used to be to collect as much stuff as possible. The more you had, the more you were worth.

But that’s not the case anymore. More and more experts are talking about the value of minimalism—the idea that less is more. The takeoff of Marie Kondo’s tidying up ideas have pushed this full force, with women across the nation asking themselves if their possessions bring them joy.

As organization starts trending, it only makes sense for pre-loved fashion to follow suit. Secondhand stores help you de-clutter your closet and your life:

• Consignment shops offer a place to sell unwanted clothing and accessories to make space in your home. If something doesn’t bring you joy, you can sell it to Current Boutique to open up your closet and make a little extra dough.
• Shopping consignment means you can invest in high value, designer pieces that are classic and timeless. This means you can have fewer pieces that last longer in your closet. But buying preloved means you don’t have to spend exorbitant amounts to fill your closet with quality.

Learn how to clean and consign your closet here!

“The best way to find out what we really need is to get rid of what we don’t.” – Marie Kondo

3. There’s an emphasis on quality, healthy clothing.

Customers are becoming more aware of how their products have an impact on their health. Even de-cluttering is actually good for your health. Clearing your space helps clear your mind, which can help minimize stress and anxiety.

Fast fashion are often not the healthiest clothing to put on your body. They’re made in factories with synthetic dyes and chemicals to make the clothes appear to be higher quality than they actually are.

For example, you spot a cheap cashmere sweater for only $40, and it’s super soft and luscious. That softness isn’t actually from the cashmere. The company filled it up with chemicals to make it feels soft—but these chemicals end up transferring to your skin and wearing down the fabric. (Tip: Real cashmere is actually a little rough when you buy it, because it softens with age.)

The clothing you’ll find in pre-loved stores tend to be higher quality and made with fewer chemicals. This means you’re putting purer clothing on your body, so you’re not subjecting your skin to the absorption of unnatural compounds.

Plus, the clothing items in secondhand shops have already proven themselves. In order to make it into a consignment shop, the item needs to meet certain requirements. It has to have particular design elements and materials that means it will hold up over time. It has to go through a rigorous cleaning and revitalization process. And it’s already lived a life with someone else. That means by the time it gets into your hands, it’s already withstood a lot of wear and proven itself valuable and worthy.

Get more tips on how to spot quality clothing here.

4. There’s a market to make money on surplus items.

During the de-cluttering process, it can hurt to give away a blouse you spent money on and never wore. You stare longingly at your unloved purchase, wishing you weren’t throwing your money down the drain on a shirt you never actually wanted.

Secondhand shops take your unwanted items and give them a new life! You don’t have to waste all of your money or feel bad that your item never even got to experience the world. You’ll be giving the item a new home—and getting some of your money back!

You likely won’t get the original price on your goodies. But some shops will pay back almost a quarter of the price for some designs, which can definitely help you fatten your wallet for future purchases.

Start selling your unused or gently worn clothing.

5. Used clothing costs less.

Not only can consumers make money on unwanted clothes, but they can also find their new favorite pieces at a fraction of its original cost. You can actually “upgrade” the value of your wardrobe with luxury designers that make classic, quality, sustainable clothing—all without breaking the budget.

Imagine buying a Moschino down for $58.99 or Gucci sandal heels for only $80.99. What about a Kate Spade convertible bag for $61.99 or a Tiffany & Co. open heart necklace for $118.99? (Prices are at time of writing—subject to change based on availability.)

There is no better feeling than stocking up on gorgeous goodies for a steal!

6. Pre-loved fashion offers a new type of wearing experience.

Pre-loved fashion is fun. Girls love, love, love the experience that comes with finding and wearing secondhand clothing. There’s a thrill that comes with finding a unique piece of clothing that speaks directly to you. These items aren’t in every store, so fewer people are likely to have it or have seen it.

Plus, you can focus on your own style—not on what the stores or trends are dictating. What you find in consignment shops tends to be more classic, timeless pieces that can withstand changing fads. So you can find clothing articles that really speak to you and bring you joy.

This kind of novelty is rare in our fast fashion world, so you’ll be able to strut your stuff knowing you’re wearing the most unique pieces from the hottest designers—at the best possible price.

Pre-loved fashion is the shopping experience taking off this 2019. With a focus on quality, sustainability, and cost, there’s no better way to upgrade your wardrobe and style than consignment clothing.

Why do YOU love pre-loved fashion?