STAFF at charity shops in Redditch say they have seen an increase in the number of clothes being bought for ‘upcycling’ as young people become more conscious of their carbon footprint, writes Shivani Chaudhari.
It is all part of a sustainable fashion movement aimed at reducing waste and maximising the use of clothing already produced.
Charity shop staff have seen a rise in popularity at their shops over the past five years and while some of that will be down to general money saving, they say there has definitely been a generational shift in the demographic.
More young people are choosing to donate and buy from charity shops.
Whereas in previous times there could have been negative connotations attached to wearing something ‘second hand’, now getting something from a charity shop is seen as issuing a ‘fashion statement’, earning a ‘frugal badge of honour’ as well as demonstrating a will to help the environment.
Coral Furness from Sense has 17 years of experience in working in charity shops and said: “There is not much stigma about it.
“We get a wide spectrum of both old and young people, but more young people are buying and donating in the past five years.”
She added everything which was upcycled, and the unmarketable items were separated into paper, glass or plastic and recycled externally.
“Everything we don’t use goes to our rag-man and the actual stuff that goes into the bin isn’t that much.”
Amelia Komor from the British Heart Foundation said she had also noticed a strident increase in the number of young people using charity shops in the past five years.
“Ethical fashion and vintage clothing has become a huge trend, with young people across the UK looking for unique, pre-loved items that are also sustainable.
“With a growing awareness around sustainability, more people now turn to us as ethical alternatives rather than just bargain hunters.”
Charity shops provide consumers with a sense of social responsibility because of minimal waste they produce.
Amelia added: “Our clothing shops reuse and recycle over 90 per cent of the donations we receive.”
Last year alone, BHF shops and stores saved 74,000tonnes of items from landfill and unwanted items overall made £30million to be put towards the research of heart and circulatory diseases.
Amelia said she had noticed a change in consumer behaviour because people were becoming more aware of the environmental impact of their shopping habits.
She said: “There’s become more than one way to wear something that’s new to you – it doesn’t have to be totally ‘new’.
“While people still look for bargains at fast fashion retailers, charity retailers are now more likely to be on their list of places to shop.”
* WHAT has been your experience of charity shops? Have you always used them, or have you used them more recently as the world’s environmental issues become more widely reported? Maybe you are among those upcycling clothes and other items? Email us your experiences to [email protected]
