You don’t need a trust fund to fulfill your fashion dreams. With a bit of time and the right places to look, building a fit without torching the planet (or your wallet too much) is easier than ever. So if you’re trying to swerve fast fashion and still look good on a budget, we’ve got you.
We asked around and did the digging to bring you spots, strategies and second-hand gems that prove sustainable streetwear doesn’t have to mean paying £95 for a plain tee. From Depop scrolls to vintage bins in charity shops, here’s how the new wave is keeping it clean, cheap and cold.
Meet Imani: Upcycling Queen of North London
Imani, 22, runs a tiny studio out of her Dad’s garage. She lights some incense, puts on some music , and gets to work. It’s where she flips vintage workwear into one-off pieces that make her wardrobe so much more unique.
“I started sewing during lockdown with random bits of old clothes and it sort of just went from there…” she said.
“People think sustainable fashion is just about buying eco-labels, but for me it’s more about using what already exists. There’s so much fabric already out there. We don’t need more new stuff.”
Imani sources most of her materials from charity shops and her parents’ old clothes. Her tip? Go outside of the city. “If you hit charity shops in smaller towns, you’ll find better stuff and it’s way cheaper. Urban shops clock onto trends and hike up the prices in order to make the most money.”
Top tips
- Dig Deep on second hand cites: Use niche search terms (“deadstock cargo” or “90s tech fleece”) and sort by lowest price. Don’t be afraid to message sellers for bundles or deals.
- Thrift Off the Grid: Avoid hyped vintage stores in city centres. Hit church-run charity shops or local boot sales. The best pieces live in underrated places.
- Swap Not Shop: Organise a swap with friends or hit community swap events. You get a refresh, and the drip cycle continues sustainably.
- Know Your Materials: Organic cotton, hemp, deadstock, recycled poly – get clued up. Knowing what’s actually low-impact helps you make better picks, even on resale sites.
- Ditch fast fashion for sustainable cites: Opt for brands that prioritise a quality piece of clothing and have their own unique style. These pieces will last you longer than just following the trends that will inevitably go out of style as quickly as they came in. Here are some sustainable choices: WAWWA Clothing, Plant Faced Clothing and Rapanui clothing
- Check out our other stories on sustainability for more tips.
