As long as Charity shops have been open they have been an invaluable resource for low-income shoppers to buy things they need at a price they can afford.
In the last decade this has begun to change as the resale market has grown in popularity, meaning that prices have increased, potentially pricing out the people that need charity shops and who supported them for the many years before they were ‘cool’.

While I want to promote the sustainability of wearing all the beautiful clothes that are already in existence, I am conscious of how this can contribute to the problem of price increases in charity shops.
This is a large part of why I chose to shop directly for clients, rather than resell individual items on platforms such as Depop or Vinted, as this means I do not keep any stock and the items I purchase are going directly to people who want them and not being hoarded in a storage room.

I recognise that it is a privilege to shop in charity shops by choice, and not out of necessity, so here's what I do to try and be more ethical when purchasing second-hand -

1. I make charity shops my last stop when shopping for clients. I try to source everything from vintage stores, car boot/garage sales, house clearances/estate sales or clothes I buy directly from people when they are clearing out, before I head to charity shops.

2. When I do shop in charity shops I limit myself to five items and do not visit the same store more than once a fortnight.

3. I never purchase essential items or items that are difficult to source second-hand such as, waterproofed clothing and footwear, children's items, specialised/work clothes and footwear or anything that could be used for school uniform.

I am always open to hearing more suggestions on how to be a more ethical thrifter and how I can promote wearing all the incredible clothes that are already in existence without disadvantaging others. Please feel free to reach out to me via socials.