Used clothing

[Anagor]

Hi!
Do you prefer used clothing over new clothing? I do. It's strange, since the first time I bought used clothes was only two weeks ago. Went to an army store to get some army pants (BDU style) and the only ones available i liked were used. So I bought one. Was there a few times since then and bought other used stuff. New clothes are cheap nowadays but the more I thought about it ... how are they made? Under what circumstances? Sweat shops? Child labour? You don't know but it's most likely, especially if you buy cheap.
So I decided to buy used from now on whenever possible. I wouldn't buy underwear, socks and shoes [1], but everything else. It's not about the money. The pants I bought were 15 € [2], I'd get a new "army-style" pair of pants for the same amount of money or only a bit more at h&m or new yorker. It's about sustainability. I don't want clothes anymore that were made wasting resources and exploiting workers. The clothes are there, they would be thrown away if nobody would buy them. And it's better to get a used Levis or Lee then a new massproduces cheap jeans for example. What do you think?

[1] Doesn't really matter. I'm not travelling/hiking at the moment and I have flip-flops, van slip-ons and converse chucks I bought only a few months ago. So I think I'll look for new shoes in 2016 ...
[2] Normally I'd been disappointed. They had a few holes and now after a week of wear they ripped at the right knee. But it's okay. They are kind of vintage, 29 years old (made 1985).

 

[Deleted member 9332]

I also prefer used clothes to new, although the reason i do has more to do with recourse consumption, thoughtfulness about the environment, and also availability and prices of items that are a little harder to find. I mean if you think about it buying used items is almost consuming negative recourses compared to buying new clothes as you're not only not buying something new, you're also using something that might not have been used otherwise. Now on the topic of prices, it's obvious that used clothes are incredibly cheap, and while usually extremely cheap new clothes are cheaply made, and possibly manufactured by a company who's practices you might not want to support. With used clothes if they're second hand they're given to you for free, and if you're buying them from a thrift store a lot of the time that money will go to a charity, or if you're buying them directly from a person (like you would on etsy or ebay) you're probably supporting a regular person's needs, which i think is pretty cool.
Another cool thing about second hand or used things is that you might be able to get things that aren't manufactured anymore (certain old hiking backpacks, boots, or other sweet old stuff), a fantastic example would be when i was in Sweden a few years ago with my family and i came across a gorgeous 60 year old hiking backpack for $3 god damn dollars, and sure i had to get it all the way back across the ocean but it was probably one of the best deals i've gotten on anything that wasn't free. And it's lasted ever since and seams like it's got at least 15 years left in it.
I don't think i've ever really had a bad experience with used or second hand stuff, i mean even if i t breaks fast as heck it was probably dirt cheap and already used to shit. But the thing is i've had used and second hand items for 5+ years with no problem, so yeah, i love used clothes.

 

[Kim Chee]

Most of my clothes are used. I think new clothes are a luxury. Every now and then I get a new clothing artical (I can't always find my size). Not only do I like used clothes, but I'm a huge fan of used stuff. I'm always down for that awesome feeling I get when I score something cool from a thrift store.

 

[daydreamer]

Don't buy from Goodwill if you want your money to go to a charity. They are NOT a charity anymore. Not to mention their prices are barely better than walmart's, at least around here anyway. Maybe it's better in a less rural area where they have more competition....
But yeah, I definitely prefer used clothes (especially when I get them for free from a dumpster, ::joyful:. I don't like used shoes because they never fit right (if they've been worn more than a couple times they start to mold to fit the feet of the original wearer, and they will never fit your feet right.) As far as the "ick" factor of used socks and undies, just throw them suckers in the wash with some bleach and you're good to go!

 

[Ristoncor]

I grew up on going to thrift stores. Thrift shopped clothes are awesome, and in some places you can score amazing deals. If any of you guys are in New Hampshire, hit up Laconia. I went to Laconia's thrift shop; there were shoes there for $1 or even 50¢, you could get belts for pretty much the same price, and the clothes there were really cheap too. The thing I like about thrift shop clothes is the price, of course, but also some clothes wear better when they've been "broken in" a bit. I'm thinking like sweaters, jeans, etc. And you can get stuff that's never been worn too at good prices.
New clothes are nice too, though. If you want something specific, like in a certain color or material, new can be the way to go. And socks/underwear are pretty cheap if you get them from Walmart rather than Victoria's Secret or whatever, and socks get worn out pretty fast. But like daydreamer said, you could probably just throw some bleach on them if you needed to.

 

[Anagor]

I also prefer used clothes to new, although the reason i do has more to do with recourse consumption, thoughtfulness about the environment,

Yes, exactly. That's what I meant with sustainability ...

and also availability and prices of items that are a little harder to find. I mean if you think about it buying used items is almost consuming negative recourses compared to buying new clothes as you're not only not buying something new, you're also using something that might not have been used otherwise.

Yes.

Now on the topic of prices, it's obvious that used clothes are incredibly cheap, and while usually extremely cheap new clothes are cheaply made, and possibly manufactured by a company who's practices you might not want to support. With used clothes if they're second hand they're given to you for free, and if you're buying them from a thrift store a lot of the time that money will go to a charity, or if you're buying them directly from a person (like you would on etsy or ebay) you're probably supporting a regular person's needs, which i think is pretty cool.

Well, the clothes I bought used so far weren't really cheap. About the same price I would pay for low price items at a discount clothing store. But I like to support a family owned business. I'll look for real thrift stores, though. (The army store sells all kinds of stuff new and used.)

Another cool thing about second hand or used things is that you might be able to get things that aren't manufactured anymore

Yes, good point.

I don't think i've ever really had a bad experience with used or second hand stuff, i mean even if i t breaks fast as heck it was probably dirt cheap and already used to shit.

The BDU pants I bought are sort of vintage. Don't know how often they were worn of course, but I know they were made 29 years ago. I like them even with a few holes and the ripped knee. Extremely comfortable to wear.

Most of my clothes are used. I think new clothes are a luxury.

To tell the truth, I never thought about getting used clothes before. But I changed my mind. I don't say I'll never buy new from now on, but I will definitely try to avoid it.

Not only do I like used clothes, but I'm a huge fan of used stuff.

Me, too, especially when it comes to electronics. My last two phones were used and all my computers I have now I got used. Business line stuff for a very low price. I don't need maximal performance.

Don't buy from Goodwill if you want your money to go to a charity. They are NOT a charity anymore. Not to mention their prices are barely better than walmart's, at least around here anyway. Maybe it's better in a less rural area where they have more competition....

I'm from Germany, so no Goodwill here. I have yet to explore the thrift stores nearby.

But yeah, I definitely prefer used clothes (especially when I get them for free from a dumpster, ::joyful:.

Okay, never did that. But I know there is a growing dumpster diving community, watched a documentary about it recently.

I don't like used shoes because they never fit right (if they've been worn more than a couple times they start to mold to fit the feet of the original wearer, and they will never fit your feet right.)

I'd be afraid to get athlete's foot (don't know if it's the right word), too.

but also some clothes wear better when they've been "broken in" a bit. I'm thinking like sweaters, jeans, etc.

Yes, definitely. That's why I never was into clothes shopping. The last years I used to buy maybe one pair of jeans per year and a few tshirts and hoodie sweaters. New shoes are the worst. That's why I said I'll go for new shoes probably 2016 ...

New clothes are nice too, though. If you want something specific, like in a certain color or material, new can be the way to go.

I'm not so picky. I like plain tshirts and I'm really a fan of BDU pants (long and short) now. Pockets!!! Fortunately I can show up at work dressed like this (even wearing the ripped pants). In fact my boss told me about the army store in the first place where he got used stuff for himself recently. And when I "dress up" for meetings with customers I usually just wear a black polo shirt and jeans. Last time I wore a suit or button-down shirt ... don't remember. Years ago ...

 

[Corinne]

only used clothes i have is the ones my ex gf got me from Goodwill

 

[ottawafm]

I always buy pants from goodwill. They're broke in and cheaper than Walmart, and you can find em' in larger sizes for basically the same price. Don't be picky when it comes to waist size, buy em' if the there long enough.
Also, if there too big, then at the belt line, there will be two layers of material. At the button, make a small slit through one of the layers of material. Then run a piece of rope through the belt line and tie it off.
Presto!

 

[Kim Chee]

Then run a piece of rope through the belt line and tie it off.
Presto!

A soda straw will cinch them also (and soda straws are free and everywhere).

 

[VikingAdventurer]

A soda straw will cinch them also (and soda straws are free and everywhere).

I have not heard of this trick. How would one accomplish it? ::

 

[Kim Chee]

I have not heard of this trick. How would one accomplish it? ::

Tie one end of a soda straw to a belt loop in front then tie other end to an adjoining belt loop (taking up a little slack). This process can be repeated with other belt loop pairs until the desired effect is achieved.

On topic: I can't get enough of used clothes, but I recently spoiled myself with some new Carhartt. I have an odd size, I can't just walk into a thrift store and put stuff on all day long like some people can.

 

[VikingAdventurer]

Huh. I wonder why/how I'd never heard of that until now. Ya learns somethin' new everyday, I guess! ::bookworm::

 

[Kim Chee]

Huh. I wonder why/how I'd never heard of that until now. Ya learns somethin' new everyday, I guess! ::bookworm::

I gots homebum skills, brah.

 

[ottawafm]

Tie one end of a soda straw to a belt loop in front then tie other end to an adjoining belt loop (taking up a little slack). This process can be repeated with other belt loop pairs until the desired effect is achieved.

I've tried things similar to this but this technique uses the belt loops to bunch up the material. The technique that I suggested doesn't and is better fitting on the waist.

 

[Odin]

I always buy pants from goodwill. They're broke in and cheaper than Walmart, and you can find em' in larger sizes for basically the same price. Don't be picky when it comes to waist size, buy em' if the there long enough.
Also, if there too big, then at the belt line, there will be two layers of material. At the button, make a small slit through one of the layers of material. Then run a piece of rope through the belt line and tie it off.
Presto!

Just like a pair of warm ups... or sweat pants... :ompus::

 

[ottawafm]

Right.

 

[Art101]

I think I have bought 1 pair of new jeans in the last 5 years and about the only new t-shirts I might buy are band t-shirts,or to support a local business.Some of the best stuff I have bought has been from surplus stores,including a pair of Oakley boots(I beat the crap out o those things and donated them to a local thrift store).I just plain avoid Helmart or any the box stores of doom.

 

[kecleon]

Most used stuff is in such good condition it's as good as new for me. A lot of used old stuff is better than new stuff that tends to be poor quality. I get a lot of free used clothes and wear the hell outta them!

 

[Anagor]

My fav pair of jeans is getting threadbare (already a hole above the left knee and there will be more soon, I'm afraid), so I need to buy some jeans soon, I guess. But not new ones. There is an army surplus store not far away, they also sell used jeans. Will take a look there.

 

[Wawa]

I'm up to three really nice smartwool/icebreaker brand merino wool tops now, all for a few dollars at various thrift stores. Anytime I see the stuff I grab it... when the clothing gets wrecked I cut off and save all the useable material. Only time I'll actually patch socks ><