NF01 November/December 2023

46 Vintage Clothing
NEW BEGINNINGS • NEW BEGINNINGS • NEW BEGINNINGS •
thical brand directory
and experts on
sustainable fashion
Good On You describe
‘fast fashion’ as,
“Cheap, trendy
clothing that samples
ideas from the
catwalk or celebrity
culture and turns
them into garments
at breakneck speed.”
Sounds great! Affordable styles
that keep you on trend.
Unfortunately, this comes at
a cost. Not to your bank balance,
maybe, but for the environment
it’s like going deep into an
overdraft that’s already maxed
out. Research from the Geneva
Environment Network and the
UN Economic Commission for
Europe shows that the fashion
industry is responsible for 10%
of our carbon emissions, plus
there’s all the water usage,
pollution and exploitation of
workers to factor in. Systemic
issues that aren’t going away.
Fashion Revolution’s 2023
Fashion Transparency Index
reported that “99% of fashion
brands do not disclose
a commitment to reduce the
number of new items they
produce.” They also explain that
“just 12% of brands publish
a responsible purchasing
code of conduct”. So while the
responsibility for fixing the
fashion industry shouldn’t lie
primarily with consumers, we
can help influence supply and
demand by shopping elsewhere,
opting instead for vintage looks
and re-edits of preloved and
secondhand items.
It’s something more and more
people are choosing to do.
There’s been a spike in popularity
for reselling apps like Depop,
Vestiaire Collective, Vinted and
even Facebook Marketplace.
TikTok search terms like
#upcycledfashion, #thrifting
and #secondhand are in their
billions, and fashion influencers
are including #thrifthaul and
#charityshophaul in their posts
to tap into the trend. IRL, in
the southwest, we’re seeing
an influx of events like Bristol
Thrift Market, whose first market
saw 1,000-plus people come
through the doors at Document,
Bristol, recently. Co-founder
and organiser Hannah explains
the importance of closing the
loop and why thrifting is also
important for the local economy.
“Buying secondhand not only
keeps clothes in circulation,”
she tells us, “but it also supports
local businesses and fellow
thrifters in the process. There’s
also not a lot that matches the
thrill of sifting through countless
rails of dreamy vintage clothes
and finding the perfect one-off
piece at a bargain price.”
As the cost of living crisis drags
on (and on), this bargain-seekers’
thrill has gone up a few notches.
And, as you’ll find in our handy
guide, there’s nowhere better to
find it than the southwest.
GILMOURS GARMZ
Warminster, BA12 9AN
Harry Gilmour,
owner: “I’ve always
had a quirky passion
for clothes; loving
vintage and goodquality
branded
clothing. For me,
sustainable fashion is
the way forward, and
I have a shop full of
amazing handpicked
clothing right in the
heart of Warminster.”
NF01