What is fast fashion? What are charity shops and why are they thriving in the UK?
And how do we exchange fast fashion for ethical consumption?
All this and more in this podcast.

I’m Nick Simcock, a certified language coach. I help Italians to unlock their English. Se sei italiano e vuoi capire ogni parola di questo podcast, vai sul mio sito speakwithnick.it podcast: potrai ascoltarmi mentre segui la trascrizione completa. In più, troverai la sezione Language Focus per scoprire le frasi più particolari che uso. Go to my website, the link is in the description.

So, are you ready to exchange fast fashion for higher quality or second hand?

Fast fashion is very appealing on the surface with low prices and a large selection of new fashions, but the big clothes chains in the high street and some online stores often hide large scale environmental pollution and bad working conditions for people producing the garments in poor countries. What’s more, the low quality of the materials means that the clothes wear out quickly.

So what are the alternatives? You can choose to buy clothes made with natural fibres, organic cotton or recycled fabrics or decide to buy timeless fashion from sellers that have an eco-friendly approach. Obviously, it may cost more but the clothes should last longer. You can also use fair-trade organisations that help developing countries that receive the right financial return and support for their work.

Another option is second hand online, a lot of people use websites like Vinted to sell and buy second hand clothes, although I have read that it is possible to get scammed by receiving a poorer quality item than you expected. If you do use this kind of service it’s important to stay within the website and app provided to reduce the chance of scams and disputes.

If you want to hit the high streets and physically go hunting for second hand clothing, in America there are many thrift stores. The word “thrift” comes from the verb “to thrive” meaning “to prosper”. I read online that thrift store prices may not always be that low, because it depends on the demand for the items, but at least you know you are recycling and contributing to the idea of a circular economy where things are repurposed and recycled.

In the UK, where I am from, second hand bargains can be found in charity shops, which are very common on the high streets. People donate not only clothes, but toys, records, CDs, books, household bric a brac and even furniture that they don’t need or want anymore. Then the shop sells these items for a very small price and the money goes to charity. Some common examples of charity shops found in the UK are Cancer Research, Oxfam, The Salvation Army, Save the Children and the PDSA which helps sick animals. In Australia charity shops are called op shops, op is short for opportunity.

Obviously the quality of the items in charity shops can vary greatly, so you need a good eye, patience and some luck to find what you are interested in. Sometimes you come across great items at very low prices and the fun thing is that you never know what you are going to find!

My Italian wife loves going charity shopping when we are in the UK and she always finds interesting bargains. People in these shops are very down to earth and friendly. When you go to the counter to pay for your purchases you can have some lovely conversations. Here are some examples:
“Oh, this is a pretty dress, isn’t it. Only £4. What a bargain!”
“Do you need a bag or do you have one? No, I’ve got a bag, it’s OK thank you.”
“Are you interested in our bookmark? It’s only 50p. Oh, go on then, I’ll have a bookmark.”
“Have a lovely day. You too. see you again.”  

Many high streets and town centres in the UK have suffered lots of closures and a slow but steady decline in recent times, for many reasons. Fortunately, charity shops are still going strong thanks to lower taxes and rents for charitable organisations and for the fact that they are mainly staffed by volunteers. 

It’s important to say that charity shops aren’t just shops, they function as vital social hubs. They offer a place for local people to chat and meet. I read online that there are more than 230,000 charity shop volunteers in the UK. These places also provide work experience for many people who find it difficult to get back into paid work because of physical or mental challenges.

There is also an interesting trend with Gen Zers, people born between 1997 and 2012, who are using charity shops, op shops and thrift stores, to find unique, fashionable and low priced clothing. This ethical consumption over fast fashion is why words like thrift and vintage have become so fashionable in recent years.

The great thing about using the second hand market place and charity shops is that you  can sell or donate your own clothes, toys, books, and objects that you want to get rid of or don’t need anymore. It’s a great way to declutter your house, make your life lighter, give things a second life and help other people! 

Have you turned your back on fast fashion?
What alternatives do you use?
Have you ever been shopping in a Thrift Store in America, a Charity Shop in the UK or an Op Shop in Australia?
I’d really love to hear about your experience.

If English is your second language, well done for listening!
I’ll speak to you soon, ciao for now!