Upcycling and Thrifting

Shopping is an exciting activity where you get yourself some trendy new outfits to add to your closet, but it should come as no surprise that regular shopping is slowly destroying the planet. This article provides ways you can shop more sustainably. Have you considered shopping in your own closet? You might be wondering how that counts as a proper shopping experience. Well, here's how.

When you take an old piece of clothing and turn it into something completely different and new, then that's the same thing as going to your favorite retail store to buy the same thing. The only difference is that it's less expensive and more sustainable for the environment. Upcycling and thrifting are great ways you can be fashionable in a sustainable way.

How these best friends are saying no to fast fashion

The fashion industry as we know it is one of the biggest villains responsible for the environmental decline - fast fashion. Fast fashion is essentially an unsustainable practice of making pieces of clothing quickly and inexpensively to keep up with the ever-evolving fashion trends and the demand for clothing items. Just like the name itself, fast fashion is often made quickly with cheap fabrics, which leads to a never-ending cycle of consumers purchasing the clothing cheaply and having to replace them because of damages like rips and tears or a new rising fashion trend.

This vicious cycle is one of the reasons why the United States sends over 20 pounds of textile waste to landfills every year. Fortunately, more people are breaking out of the pattern and practicing more sustainable and ethical fashion.

A favorite example of people setting the pace in promoting ethical and sustainable fashion is Tommy Groenendijk and Jordan Deery.

Who are they?

Tommy Groenendijik and Jordan Deery are two best friends who gained popularity against fast fashion and fast fashion trends.

Using their social media platforms - Instagram and Tik Tok - they have both risen to internet stardom and have converted more people into the practice of sustainable and ethical fashion. The two met in their sophomore year of high school and have grown into content creators who use relatable and engaging content to teach people all across the world how to upcycle old clothes into new ones. They expose the excitement of a great find while thrifting.

These two are exemplary of the potential the world of fashion has to offer in the future if only more people knew or were passionate about sustainable fashion. Their Tik Tok page "vintage stock reserve" with two million followers has even been featured in Vogue magazine.

The growth of upcycling in recent years

What initially started for many as a fun pastime project soon gained a major following, especially when the benefits were revealed. The sustainable fashion industry is growing at a rapid speed, estimated to be worth billions of dollars as of 2019. Even though the cost of practicing ethical fashion for fashion houses and the industry as a whole is more expensive, the benefits can not be understated. What's more? The ethical fashion industry is expected to grow year over year.

The industry’s growth is believed to result from more awareness of the issues resulting from fast fashion. More social media users are creating content to spread awareness on the dangers of fast fashion and lucky enough, people are concerned enough to pay attention. They are being proactive about curbing unsafe fashion practices.

The pandemic was instrumental in further growing the already rising industry. It provided an excellent opportunity for online retailers and fashion brands that practice sustainable fashion to thrive.

How can you practice fast like "vintage stock reserve"?

If fast fashion is all you've ever known, actively making that transition to a more environmentally friendly and sustainable lifestyle might be much easier said than done. Regardless, it is still doable. All you need to do is to make a conscious effort to make this lifestyle shift.

Here's how:

• Follow more content creators that spread awareness on the dangers of fast fashion and give great tips on how to practice sustainable fashion
• Use your platform to educate others as well
• Avoid following the trend
• Learn how to upcycle or revamp the clothes you already have in your wardrobe
• Avoid compulsive shopping
• Buy and support retail shops or fashion brands that practice sustainable fashion
  

Conclusion

There's something to learn from the lives of the content creators behind vintage stock reserve, Tommy Groenendijik and Jordan Deery. They teamed up and are using their platform to spread awareness on unethical fashion while simultaneously teaching an alternative to fast fashion.