Let's get thrifty!

Many stores now offer sustainable choices for consumers to find treasure in pre-loved items

A collaborative multimedia article by fashion and journalism students of Manchester Metropolitan University, UK and Pearl Academy, India

Huckleberry Hangers celebrates the uniqueness of clothes as an online thrift store in India, with an outlet in the upscale fashion village of Hauz Khas in New Delhi. Each item of clothing is thrifted and Neha Butt, the owner of the store, is proud of the story each item carries. She proudly says: "We aim to provide the freedom to wear anything beyond gender or any cultural disparity."

Sanjeevni Tanwar, Ridhi Jain, Simran Sood, Vidushi Chawla and Prakruti Sharma spend a day with Neha Butt in her curiosity store.

Podcast: Neha Butt talks about how she began her thrift store

Affordable Shopping: Like other thrift stores, the cost of items is one of the main benefits of sourcing clothes at Huckleberry Hangers. Thrift shops offer gently used goods at markedly reduced costs compared to their brand-new competitors.

Environmental Sustainability: Thrifting is a great way to cut waste and support environmental sustainability.

Unique, Vintage Finds: A treasure troves of unique items can be found in thrift stores, that provide a fascinating and unpredictable shopping experience. Whether you're a collector seeking valuable antiques or a fashion fanatic looking for one-of-a-kind apparel items, vintage stores are a great place to begin hunting.

Personal and Social Benefits: Thrift shops have advantages beyond the material benefit. Some people use thrifting as a hobby or a way to express themselves. Finding a special item at a bargain can be immensely gratifying!

The survival of the human race is dependent on fresh air, earth and water

Illustration by Manasi Kulkarni

Responsible consumption and production: Achieving Goal 12 of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals by 2030

The United Nations' 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted in 2015, is a comprehensive framework with 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) intended to address global challenges and advance a more sustainable and equitable world. In order to achieve economic growth and reduce environmental degradation, SDG 12, Responsible Consumption and Production, focuses on establishing sustainable patterns of consumption and production. Now in 2023, how far have we got?

Promoting sustainable manufacturing and production

Prioritising sustainable manufacturing and production techniques is crucial in 2023. Industries ought to implement resource-saving techniques, greener technologies, and circular economy ideas. Businesses may reduce their environmental impact and help create a more sustainable future by embracing renewable energy sources, optimising resource utilisation, and reducing waste output. Through setting incentives and legislation, governments can play a significant role to encourage eco-friendly manufacturing practices.

Encouraging sustainable lifestyles and consumer behaviour

The SDG 12's promotion of responsible consumption is a major component. Individuals, communities, and organisations must adopt sustainable lifestyles and make deliberate decisions about their consumption habits by 2023. Consumers can prioritise buying eco-friendly goods, support companies that use sustainable business practices, and cut back on wasteful spending. Businesses must place a high value on transparency and accurate information provisions in order to enable customers to make educated decisions. Sustainable consumption patterns can promote resource conservation, waste reduction, social equity and resilience.

Enhancing resource efficiency and waste management

The achievement of SDG 12 depends on good waste management and resource management. Governments and businesses should concentrate on putting these ideas into practice in 2023. These initiatives include recycling, reusing, and upcycling. Integrated waste management systems should be put in place to reduce the negative environmental effects of trash disposal and advance a circular economy. We can greatly support SDG 12 and lessen environmental degradation by lowering trash generation, maximising resource usage, and investing in sustainable waste management infrastructure.

Fostering global partnerships and collaboration

Global partnerships and cooperation across several stakeholders, including governments, corporations, civil society organisations, and individuals, are necessary for achieving SDG 12. To share knowledge, skills, and best practices in 2023, it is essential to fortify these alliances and improve cooperation for sustainable consumption and production, inspire innovation, and support efforts to improve capacity in the Global South.

Zero waste: fashion's revolutionary approach to a sustainable future

by Manasi Kulkarni

The glamour of the fashion industry may have concealed the fact that it is one of the industries that generates a significant amount of waste. Every step of the fashion manufacturing process results in waste. Textile production has increased globally in recent years, and clothing has clearly become more than just a human necessity. It is an integral part of our ssocial and cultural lives. Fast fashion, which produces newer styles and trends as quickly as possible, has a significant environmental impact. Fast fashion contributes significantly to the waste generated by the fashion industry.

Sustainability in the fashion industry

In recent times, awareness about environmental impacts has been encouraged. Sustainable fashion is an umbrella that focuses on sustaining the planet and eliminating practises that harm the natural and social environment. Efforts to reduce industrial waste have begun. This article looks into zero-waste fashion practises, focusing on the changes they necessitate in clothing production and consumption.

It includes every stage of the product's life: raw materials, production, manufacturing, transporting, marketing, sales, storage, repair, recycling, care, etc. To achieve this sustainability, many innovations and approaches are coming into the picture. Zero-waste fashion is one of the sustainable practises that aims to produce no waste in the fashion industry.

What exactly is zero-waste fashion?

With more awareness of the UN's SDGs, some segments of the fashion industry have adopted responsible and sustainable practices. Zero-waste management is a sustainable production practice that has only recently entered the industry. Zero-waste fashion is about making full use of existing materials and not producing textile or other material waste.

There are two types of textile waste: pre-consumer and post-consumer. Hence, there are two major approaches to waste reduction that revolve around pre-consumer design and post-consumer fashion waste management. Along with that, clothing must be maintained and repaired. As a lifestyle approach, zero-waste is more than just a problem-solving technique. The objective is a step towards long-term change.

Zero-waste fashion deals with removing waste from the manufacturing and production stages. It includes practices such as making better use of yardage, better textile selection, and making new clothing from fabric scraps. When it comes to waste management, textile selection is crucial. Textiles made from natural fibres that won't impact the environment and will be easy to recycle The design of clothing is itself a solution, encouraging sustainability in fashion.

Fashion designers are focusing on patterns of design to achieve zero-waste clothing.

The goal of modular design is to create interchangeable and multifunctional garment components that can be mixed and matched to create a variety of looks. This method encourages versatility and increases the lifespan of individual clothing pieces. Designers such as Daniel Silverstein, Holly McQuillan, and Eileen Fisher are committed to designing zero-waste garments.

Managing post-consumer waste

The term, as it says, refers to waste generated after consumer use of fashion. Reusing, recycling, and upcycling play a major role in this. Many brands follow a take-back policy to create a sustainable cycle. Similarly, the brands and designers who created the items would keep their pieces in circulation for a longer period of time. Brands like Doodlage, Fanfare, and RE.STATEMENT work completely for upcycling and recycling.

All of us have a piece of clothing in our closets that we rarely wear after particular events, but as previously mentioned, clothing plays a significant role in our social and cultural lives, so occasionally it becomes necessary to purchase the specific item of clothing.

The new choices on the market now include renting and thrifting. Previously, people did not favour renting clothing, but as people have become more aware of sustainable living, the idea of renting and thrifting clothing has gained support.

But why zero waste fashion?

Since the UN declared its sustainable development goals, the world has started contributing to nature in various different ways. The traditional techniques of production require substantial amounts of energy and water. By overproducing clothing, we are stressing the environment and depleting the planet. According to the World Resources Institute 20% of water pollution is caused by the textile industry,.

As a result, this indicates that the industry, among other factors, contributes significantly to climate change and global warming. Once you know these problems caused by the textile industry, it won't be hard for you to understand why zero-waste fashion is an important change towards a healthy eco-system. It aims to create a circular economy, whose principle is to keep materials in use for as long as possible.

Zero waste fashion and ethical fashion

Ethical fashion refers to the ethical workings of the supply chain. Workers rights, wages, working conditions, etc. It promotes transparency, slow fashion, support for local artisans, and sustainable production. It works for the natural environment as well as the social environment affected by the fashion industry. Both zero-waste fashion and ethical fashion oppose fast fashion production and consumption. As it has the worst effects on the environment, and the workers are exploited working in these industries. Both support responsible consumerism and lead towards a sustainable future.

What can we do as consumers?

Buy less, but better
Encourage thrifting and renting clothes.
Spread awareness about sustainable clothing.
Support brands that focus on zero-waste.
Live life with a sustainable approach.
Avoid buying from fast-fashion brands.
Choose sustainability over trends.

To achieve our goal of creating circular economies, we must modify the roles of the consumer and designer in the fashion industry. Zero-waste fashion can help fulfil our goals towards nature. It can reduce the environmental degradation caused by fashion industry and benefits the planet. It offers a future which is better and sustainable.

Exploring Manchester's vibrant thrift store scene

by Amber Bermingham, Khushreet Kaur Johal and Sannidhi Gali

Manchester, a vibrant city known for its fashion-forward culture, is home to a thriving thrift store scene. Through interviews with employees from three notable stores, we acquired interesting insights into their unique appeal, clientele, pricing strategies, and contributions to the community.

Check out Manchester's thrift stores by clicking on the Google map below

British Heart Foundation

Sofia, a British Heart Foundation (BHF) charity store employee, expressed her thoughts on the store's popularity and unique appeal. With more than 100 daily sales, the store attracts a diverse range of customers, primarily students, young people, and tourists.

The majority of shoppers are women between the ages of 18 and 25. Sofia says a large percentage of their inventory at the BHF store is donated by fast fashion brands. They also receive items from the vintage store Pop Boutique, and the rest of their stock is sourced through donations.

The BHF store in Manchester stands out from other charity shops because of its resemblance to a regular retail store. This promotes a more comfortable atmosphere for customers, removing any potential embarrassment or stigma associated with thrift stores.

Although the BHF store is a charity, it tries to provide a boutique shopping experience and as a result it has become UK's most profitable thrift store.

Sofia credits the store's success to the higher costs of certain popular items, such as party wear, which may be sold at a higher price because of the store's location and the unique outfits they receive.

She has observed students' purchase patterns vary, with some preferring well-known labels like Pretty Little Thing and others checking out the vintage section for its unique items.

This difference in preferences results in a diverse clientele within the store, catering to a wide range of tastes and styles.

Sofia volunteer at the British Heart Foundation clothing store in Piccadilly, Manchester

Ultimately, the British Heart Foundation store successfully combines the appeal of trendy fashion, vintage items with a charitable cause, attracting a loyal customer base and generating a significant profit for the charity.

Elite Dress Agency

The Northern Quota · Elite Store

Imogen, an employee at Elite Dress Agency, shares an insider's view on the second-hand store's business approach and consumer base.

For almost 40 years, the business has been an icon on the Manchester scene, offering a consignment service through which they sell products on behalf of customers and receive a 50% commission, with the client receiving the other half of the selling price.

Given that the store specialises in ladies' apparel, Imogen classifies Elite’s customers as mostly female. However, the store also attracts male clients who frequently buy accessories, T-shirts, or look for gifts for their partners.

In terms of pricing, the store bases its prices on its understanding of the market and customer preferences. They consider footfall and conduct research to ensure competitive pricing, taking into account both the interests of the sellers and the expectations of the customers.

Imogen points out there is competition from online platforms such as Poshmark as well as stores such as TK Maxx, where buyers can get brand-new things at discounted costs.

To find a balance, the store tries to charge a reasonable price while maintaining profitability and meeting customer expectations.

The store's longevity can be credited to its loyal customer base, which includes long-standing customers who have been with them since the beginning as well as new customers who have recently discovered the store.

Imogen believes their comprehensive service, where the store handles all aspects of selling the items, is a major plus. Customers only need to bring their items, and the store handles pricing, merchandising, online presence, and customer enquiries.

This convenience appeals to busy individuals who value the trustworthiness and personal connection built with the store's employees. As a result, customers continue to return, while others are drawn to the store's hassle-free experience.

Thrift Shop

Located near a train station, the Thrift Store in Manchester experiences a constant stream of customers throughout the day.

Manager Alex calculates that for every 10 people who visit the store, around three will make a purchase.

Customers across various demographics are drawn to the store's diverse range of items, which reflects the store's varied inventory. When it comes to gender distribution, the store leans slightly towards female customers, although the difference isn't significant.

Alex explains that the front of the store features premium stock, competing with the stores in the Northern Quarter, while the back of the store offers more affordable options.

This strategy attracts a diverse range of customers with varying price points, including families looking for budget-friendly clothing options.

When the topic of resellers buying cheap and selling items at a profit came up during the interview, Alex expressed concern about resellers negatively hurting the vintage market.

She said resellers often buy the best items first thing in the morning, leaving little for people who rely on second-hand shopping to clothe their families.

While recognising the role of resellers in the growth of the thrift industry, she felt that there are currently far too many people involved in reselling.