Why Sustainable Shopping Should Include Repairs

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means for something to be “new.” The most frequent way we hear about it in terms of clothing is something that’s “new with tags.” What I’ve learned from my years of thrifting is that you can find things still new with tags at second-hand stores like Goodwill.

That’s how I stumbled upon a full, seasonal collection of Rachel Zoe’s ready-to-wear collection and a new with tags Prada blouse. Even if items don’t have the original tags on them, you can easily tell how new or worn pieces of clothing are by taking a close look at them in the store.

Fix and Make Do

In today’s Instagram culture, where some wouldn’t want to be photographed in the same outfit twice, it’s not surprising that the majority of the items I’ve brought home from Goodwill look pretty much brand new. For items that are great quality but might need a little bit of repair, it’s still worth it to take them home and break out a sewing kit rather than buying them from a department store. They may have been worn before, but they’re still new to me and my closet!

‘New’ as defined by fast fashion is a luxury of days past. It’s almost impossible for someone to say they care about the environment today while touting plastic shopping bags from fast fashion stores, full of clothing made cheaply that won’t last more than a few wears and whose wasteful production processes do so much damage to the Earth. The fast fashion industry sends more than 13 million tons of waste to landfills each year, increasing carbon emissions and pollution on a global scale.

Sustainable Shopping at Goodwill

That’s why I’m willing to take some extra steps to shop smarter and more consciously. That might mean buying a pair of Joe’s Jeans from Goodwill with a small hole by the hem that I know I can patch up instead of buying the same pair at Bloomingdale’s for the full price. It also means taking home this adorable Lovers & Friends square neck top, which I know I’ll use for bachelorette activities, even though the bottom button was a little bit loose. With my handy little sewing kit, I was able to repair that and tighten up the other buttons in under ten minutes.

When I shop at Goodwill, I support my community at the local scale, knowing that more than 80% of my purchase is used for jobs and training. I also know I’m supporting our larger community; each second-hand purchase I make is in solidarity with hope for a healthier planet. This Earth Week, think about small changes you can make to live a more sustainable life. With Goodwill, I’ve found my own changes turn into fun shopping trips that support brighter days and a brighter closet.

How do you repair or upcycle Goodwill finds? Tag us on @goodwillintl for a chance to be featured in a future blog!

Author: Felicia Czochanski