Back To School Shopping!

With a new school year coming up and almost zero funds for new clothes, I have a mission for myself! This year I will try to gain all my clothes at second-hand stores or handmade.

Why secondhand?

Think of all the clothes that get thrown away every year. Tons of it. Literally hundreds of tons of clothing that is perfectly wearable! By getting clothes second-hand you are freeing up that space and reducing your waste. People have this mentality that if it isn't new, it's ew, but that's absolutely not true.

Try going to a thrift store-- although you have to dig through a lot of hideous old lady clothes and christmas sweaters, you can find some real gems. For example my $12 prom dress! Or you can find things that only need slight alterations, or maybe if you're creative you can do a whole decon-recon effort on it. You'll find that a lot of vintage clothes are built better than the stuff you get at American Eagle or Forever 21 that practically dissolves in the washing machine. They're stronger and will therefore last you longer.

There's also consignment. Consignment stores sell old clothes for other people at a fixed return rate. It's pricier than thrift stores but things are usually in better condition and more expensive -- designer dresses usually end up here.

Then there are yard/garage sales which can be iffy, but you can haggle which is pretty sweet. These can be hit or miss.

Finally, swap-meets! Have a clothing swap party with a bunch of your friends! Invite your friends to your house to trade clothes. Ask them to bring ten items of clothing that they don't wear anymore -- maybe they don't fit right anymore, may they're trying to go for a new look, or maybe they're just sick of wearing it. Have tables set up to lay clothes on and let the swapping begin. Have somewhere available to try clothes on. You can to the same with accessories too!

Buy handmade/local

When you buy from a local seller you are supporting a real person, not a giant corporation exploiting massive amounts of resources. The materials come from closer, you can be sure that people are working for the money they deserve, and you develop an actual relationship with the people you're buying from. It's quite exciting. Buying handmade is great too. You can buy through sites like etsy.com and get some really unique stuff that isn't mass produced. You're supporting talent and skills that are in danger of being outmoded by soulless machines!

Need more ideas on where/how to get your eco-friendlier wardrobe?

Thrifty Chicks Thrifting Guide

MNN: 10 Places To Get Back To School Clothes On The Cheap