Pre-loved clothes means you can buy your favourite brands (like M & S cotton dress above) but at a fraction of the price. Ideally look for clothing made from natural fibres like cotton, hemp or linen. Avoid charity shops that spend money on animal testing (give to humane research charities). Buying pre-loved helps stop carbon emissions from shipping new clothes from abroad, often made with poor welfare laws (for new clothes, labels to look for are FairWear, B-Corp or Bluesign). 350,000 tons of quality clothing is thrown out each year (if you wear wool, silk or leather, buying pre-loved means more animals are not harmed). Wash synthetic fibres in a microplastic catcher.
It’s best to buy new baby clothes to avoid mould spores (and mattresses). Find info on crib death prevention at The Lullaby Trust (they recommend removing hats inside and for warmer temperatures).
Preworn offers 65,000 items of pre-loved clothing for men, women and children, with loyalty discounts and offers for health workers and first responders. 85% of clothes are in perfect condition, and you can shop by favourite label (many items are less than a fiver).
ReFashion lets you post unwanted clothing using their freepost label, to get a £5 voucher to spend online (many items cost less than this). We found a £42 organic cotton jacket that would be almost £200 new.
Thrift+ is a popular online marketplace to find quality secondhand clothing (we found a green cotton Fatface dress for £25, which would likely cost three times as much new on the high street). Again, this company will take your unused clothes to photograph, list and sell – then earn credits or donate money to your chosen charity.
Ever wondered why charity shops all smell the same? Some call it musty or damp? Apparently it’s due to the fact that so many clothes get donated, they all end up mingled together in storage – often with clothes that have been stashed away for years in attics etc. So they end up all smelling the same.
