the benefits of buying second-hand clothing
Shopping second-hand in South Africa can be an exciting and rewarding way to find unique and affordable items.
Whether you’re a student looking for furniture to furnish a new apartment or a fashionista searching for vintage pieces to add to your wardrobe, South Africa’s second-hand shops are packed with hidden gems.
The South African Second-Hand Shopping Guide provides a comprehensive look at the best places to shop, from popular thrift stores to online marketplaces. It outlines what to look for and provides tips for shopping second-hand in South Africa.
It’s the ultimate resource for anyone looking for stylish, affordable items without compromising on quality. So, if you’re ready to get started on your second-hand shopping journey, this guide is the perfect place to start.
There’s no denying we have a crisis regarding climate change and there’s so much we need to do to curb the irreversible damage that is being done to our planet. Buying second-hand helps to reduce the manufacturing of new goods, which in turn stems the impact on the environment by reducing
the amount of clothing we buy and in turn reduces the number of garments ending up in landfills.
Buying second-hand means finding something unique that you may not have been expecting, a cost-saving gem sometimes even better than an item bought brand new.
The popularity of online second-hand clothing markets in South Africa
Pre-loved fashion is quickly becoming one of the hottest global trends with the global second-hand fashion market expected to grow by 127% by 2026.
With online markets booming, South Africans have jumped onto this medium to both save and make money from the comfort of their own homes and with the access of a smartphone, the ability to reach multiple online markets has proved as an absolute win-win.
The future of pre-loved fashion is very promising, which has seen quite a few platforms emerging and transforming the South African thrifting landscape giving the would-be entrepreneur access to a wider network of potential customers and also allowing the buyer numerous style options.
The environmental impact of second-hand clothing
The sustainability and eco-friendliness of purchasing pre-owned clothing and how buying second-hand can reduce textile waste and contribute to a circular economy using second-hand clothing is great for your wallet and the environment.
That’s two bonuses for the price of one conscious choice!
Seriously speaking, second-hand clothes have a big positive social and environmental impact. Fast fashion is responsible for huge amounts of textile waste each year since it started in the 1980s.
"the future of fashion is circular"
Buying second-hand reduces our carbon footprint by more than 80%.
With the fashion industry doing its part to reduce its environmental impact, as consumers, we have to keep demanding transparency from fashion brands and retailers to make better-informed purchasing decisions.
The well-known fashion designer Stella McCartney said, she believes, “the future of fashion is circular, it will be restorative and regenerative by design and the clothes we love never end up as waste.”
The financial benefits of buying second-hand clothing online
The opportunity to find high-quality clothing at lower prices The potential to save money on trends and fashion that may not have a long lifespan.
A rand here or a couple of rands there, everyone likes to be able to make a saving, so it’s no wonder that more and more people are taking up the opportunity to buy high-quality fashion items that are as good as new, but for a fraction of the price.
And we’re not just talking about quantity here.
For instance, it’s not uncommon for items sold at second-hand stores to be sourced from high-end brands and made of top-quality materials.
Certain brands are synonymous with quality and their clothing holds value long-term. Generally, the same labels are worth investing in when thrifting.
If you are looking to save on clothing that may not have a very long lifespan but still be on trend then shopping brands like Forever 21, H&M, and Zara, from a second-hand store, would be the perfect options to look out for and get the items at a much lower cost.
Online second-hand clothing options in South Africa
The online marketplace is abuzz with more and more online stores becoming available where you can shop for your next fabulous outfit or if your closet is full of clothing you no longer wear, you could even sign up and become a seller.
Becoming environmentally savvy is a plus and shopping online is definitely one way to save on traveling around looking for an outfit.
So here a couple of tips to avoid scams on an online platform:
- Even though South Africa is still fairly new to the e-commerce industry, try and look for reputable online sites and stores
- Look up recent reviews from their clientele, this tells a lot about delivery turnaround times and the quality of the items you are looking to purchase
- Avoid sharing your personal banking details or ID with anyone.
- Remember to trust your instinct, if it sounds too good to be true, it most probably is.
- If you are starting your online business it would be best if you were to set up more than one reliable payment processor; one for a direct card payment that has two-factor authentication and another that allows for EFT and online payments. T
Online boutiques such as Thrift Happens (trust me the clothing options are just as cute as the store name!), WISI-Oi which has over 250 online boutiques on the platform are just a few of the options available for your perusal.
Finding and purchasing secondhand clothing online
Tips for searching for specific brands, sizes, or styles of secondhand clothing.
Best practices for negotiating prices and making purchases securelyAdvice for shipping and delivery of secondhand clothing items.
When shopping online, it’s always a great idea to be “A man with a plan” and know what you are looking for before you go out and search for it.
This will alleviate a whole lot of frustration that may come with trawling and scrolling through store after store when you could just look for a particular style, eg vintage or contemporary and be immediately directed to the store that offers those styles.
Shopping online might not have the option to negotiate so shopping at a physical store will allow the opportunity to get a clothing item at an even better price. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know.
Understanding the cuts and sizes of different brands is a plus, a small cut with one brand may be extra-small with another especially with the trendier outlets so look out for a sizing guide if offered.
With WISI-Oi, you have the fantastic option to view videos that the boutiques offer and see how the item is styled and how it fits a different body type.
On the WISI-Oi app payment options are safe, easy, and flexible with many different options to choose from, and should you experience any problems with an order, you are able to contact sellers directly.
Are you looking to start your own Second-hand business online?
Why not create a boutique on the Wisi-Oi website or download the app.
You have full control of the name of your boutique and its aesthetic. All you need to do is photograph the pieces you would like to sell and upload them onto your boutique.
We make sure all transactions are hassle-free for you by receiving all payments on your behalf, sorting out all the logistics, and then paying into your bank account twice a month. It really is that simple!
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