Get your next piece of clothing on a secondhand fashion app

Secondhand thrifting apps offer an easy alternative to buying brand-new clothing. There’s a reason it has exploded in popularity in the last few years. Secondhand no longer means old, damaged clothes—modern sites and stores focus on getting you quality goods at a great price. Besides finding bargains, you can discover unique pieces and timeless vintage designs, all while making a positive impact on the climate.

‘Fast fashion’ refers to the cheap, low-quality and sometimes unethically-produced clothes constantly churned out by companies in the effort to sell more. Not only does this result in more sub-par items that don’t last long - it also is a big contributor to the 8% of global carbon emissions generated by the clothing industry. Buying secondhand clothing helps reduce the energy use of continuously producing new clothing. By keeping clothes that would otherwise go to waste in circulation for longer, you also help create a market for sellers, encouraging more use of longer lasting and high quality clothing

Online marketplaces offer everything from designer items to bulk basics. You can find high-quality secondhand clothes at fast fashion prices, or better. You can even get brand new clothes at a fraction of the original price if someone decides they bought the wrong thing. Filters let you customize everything from price range to material to color, making it easy to find just the right item. Once you’ve found something you want, just select your preferred shipping option. Some apps let you make your own offer to the seller, some verify the items themselves. But all of the biggest marketplaces offer a safe platform to browse a variety of great pre-owned goods.

The Vinted app is a popular marketplace for quality secondhand clothes.

I regularly use Vinted to top up my seasonal wardrobe. Recently, I got a pair of Uniqlo slacks at a quarter of the retail price and a new pair of boots that didn’t fit the seller for only $5. There are plenty of other options out there, too:

• Use Poshmark to shop for the whole family.
• Visit Depop for the latest viral styles.
• ThredUp gets you curated, quality brands.
• Vestiaire Collection specializes in luxury items.

Try downloading one of these apps and give it a shot next time you need something.