Second-hand Fashion: Are Pre-worn Clothes the Future of Gifting?

One in ten people in the UK say the majority of clothes they buy over the next year will be second hand, according to a survey by Oxfam in September 2024. Second-hand retail is reshaping how we consume fashion. But can pre-loved clothing make a good gift?

When buying a gift, most people think it has to be brand new, but times are changing. Some people are becoming increasingly more comfortable buying clothes already worn by someone else and gifting them to friends and family.

But what is driving this trend? Those who work in second-hand clothing retailers or promote such gift-giving suggest that there are a variety of reasons. For some it’s about being environmentally friendly. For others, it’s about saving money. And for some, it’s about simply finding the perfect gift.

Personality and buying the perfect gift

Mya Turner, an influencer who frequently posts content on TikTok promoting second-hand fashion, believes you need to be selective when considering to whom you gift pre-worn items of clothing. She warns that some people may not appreciate wearing something that’s been worn by a stranger.

“I have discussed this with my partner, and we are fine buying each other second hand, however my parents have said they wouldn’t like second hand clothes as gifts!”

In a recent study published by YouGov, a group of Brits were asked which factors influenced their decision to give second hand gifts at Christmas. 57% felt that second hand is better for the environment, and 51% said it’s due to it being cheaper. Surprisingly, only 10% chose superior quality as one of the factors they considered.

Vanessa Atanepi, who works at Rokit Vintage store in Covent Garden, always gifts second hand, and is more than happy to receive something pre-worn.

“It’s nice to get a vintage thing which has more value than something that’s brand new, for example a good varsity jacket.”

Vanessa also hates fast fashion and enjoys expressing her own individuality. “If everyone goes to Zara, everyone looks the f****** same!”

Environment

Clothing was the most common thing bought second hand in the UK in 2024, according to Statista. It isn’t a new concept that buying your clothes pre-owned prevents carbon emissions, and also saves valuable resources.

In 2023, one of the biggest fast fashion retailers, Shein, made a profit of £18.7 million in the UK alone, according to Alliance News. Yet the company is responsible for 6.3 million tons of CO2 emissions every year.

Clearly, if fewer people bought fast fashion and turned to buying pre-worn, there would be significant improvements for the environment, yet millions of consumers still purchase from Shein, tempted by its cheap prices and trendy clothing.

Influencers online consistently post hauls of clothing they have bought from companies such as Shein, feeding into fast fashion and inspiring others to do the same. There are far fewer influencers sharing second-hand clothing hauls. Promoting used clothing is far more of a challenge, as identical items cannot be purchased by viewers.

When searching “Shein” on Vinted, over 500 results come up. It can be argued that buying something from a fast fashion brand such as Shein, wearing it once and reselling it is still unethical.

This feeds into the idea of disposable fashion, as quite often these clothes aren’t designed to last very long, so will still end up in landfill after a short while, even after being resold.

Budget

With the ongoing cost of living crisis, it can be a struggle for some to even heat their homes, let alone spend money on expensive gifts at Christmas time.

Buying second-hand clothing is not only beneficial to the environment but a great alternative to purchasing new clothes, especially for people on a budget.

Mya Turner prefers to shop second hand as she can find items of a much higher quality for “a fraction of the price.”

Jordan Bromley, manager at Pepper Tree Vintage Store in Pembridge Road thinks, “Buying clothes for people for Christmas is quite tricky.”

It is a gift that may not always go down well if you don’t find the correct size or style, or the gift receiver just doesn’t like it.

“But shopping vintage means you can get your loved one something that is truly unique and shows you’ve really thought about not only them but the item you’ve chosen them.”

Clothes bought second hand are, most of the time, cheaper than their original retail price. This is great for purchasing something that is a much better-quality item and will last longer.

For example, you could buy a pair of jeans in Primark for as little as fifteen pounds. But for a similar price in a charity shop, vintage store or online reselling platform, you could get a pre-worn pair of Levi’s jeans. The designer pair is likely to be much better quality and last a lot longer than the Primark pair, meaning you are getting a much greater value for money. Also, a pair of designer jeans is a much nicer gift to open on Christmas day!

Online or IRL?

Once someone has decided they want to buy a gift second-hand, there is still the question of how to go about doing it.

Online second-hand fashion retailers have become increasingly popular, with 90% of people in the UK having heard of Vinted, according to YouGov.

But Jordan thinks shopping in-person is a completely different experience.

“The music and visual merchandise are curated as perfectly as the clothing, so it really enhances the experience. You also can try on and fully inspect the item before purchasing which is recommended!”

You cannot try on or inspect an item before buying when purchasing online. This can be an issue because quite often the sellers won’t accept returns, so you are taking a chance that it will fit and suit you. This is something that many people don’t like and can cause them to turn to fast fashion, you can order online as many sizes as you like and often be able to return for free.

Although, on the other hand, Mya prefers shopping online on Vinted rather than going into shops.

“I can always seem to find stuff in my size, but I struggle in charity shops. There’s also constantly new stuff uploaded, and I’m not restricted to the few charity shops near me.

Buying online means the clothes could be coming from anyone, anywhere in the UK (or even further on some platforms, if you’re willing to pay expensive shipping) so there is more variety than what’s been donated in your local area.

Vinted also allows you to search by size, product and brand, which is definitely easier than rifling through rails in physical stores.

Overall, the trend of gifting second hand clothing is certainly on the rise. Perhaps the increasing popularity will allow it to become more widely adopted, rather than something that still has stigma.