Sustainable Shopping: Charity Shopping

In It Together are supporting sustainable practices, and we want to support you in doing so. Alex, local Somerset resident discusses how she found sustainable shopping through charity shopping! Read more below:

“In the year 2018 I decided to challenge myself to buy no new clothes for a year and was surprised by how easy I found it! There were a whole host of reasons that lead me to do this, fast fashion can be unsustainable and wasteful (I found myself buying new clothes every year to keep up with the trends/weather!) and with the cost of living ever rising (and being a student at the time) I was looking for ways to cut down on spending, plus, I love a good challenge!

I’ve always been drawn to charity shops, if ever I visit a new place I always end up inside them rooting around for something unique. Sometimes you find designer clothes at a fraction of the cost or in some cases I have found homemade dresses and skirts which always feels extra special because you know it’s one of a kind!

The main difficulty I’ve encountered is finding the right clothes in the right size. It can be frustrating when you see something you like but it’s too big or small. However, over time I have started to see this as a challenge and have discovered that you can make ‘too big’ clothes look like they fit with a large belt, and baggy jeans are always in style!

It’s really hard to live a perfect life in terms of sustainability and I am always looking for ways to make small changes in my lifestyle that might make a difference – it’s become a normal part of my life and I still go to the charity shops first and foremost if I’m looking to expand my wardrobe!” – Alex Hampton-Rumbold