Join the Movement - Reimagine, Repurpose, Restyle.
I’ve kept it no secret that I believe secondhand shopping is the most sustainable shopping you can do. I sincerely hope that my secondhand shopping and reuse of items that would otherwise be discarded as trash will help to expand your consciousness to think beyond what we consider to be trash.
The amount of incredible clothing that I find that already exists makes me wonder if I can ever walk into a department store the same way again. It all just seems so generic. There is no sense of wonder or creativity. It’s almost like it’s all dead. It’s all done for you. What’s the fun in that?
I love the challenge of walking into a thrift store and having to put it all together myself. That’s style. That requires one to have true style. And creativity. And sass. And having an artistic eye. It’s making beauty + magic out of the mess. I like to be challenged creatively. I crave it. I was made to do that.
‘ReFashion’ is how I express the importance of rewriting & rewiring our relationship to fashion. And it’s how I’ve done it myself. Taking it one step further- I’d like to help you rethink what you consider to be trash. How can we give new life to the discarded garments that would otherwise end up in a landfill.
In an attempt to reduce textile waste, I started shopping secondhand, and then I started sharing it everywhere I could- social media, in public, on my blog- that has become like my portfolio for secondhand fashion (or an advertisement as well, I guess).
This summer it will be 4 years since I first challenged myself to only shop secondhand. I can’t deny that I love my clothes more than ever and I feel more expressed & empowered in my clothes more than ever before as well! My style has only improved…But then again, you project outward how you feel inwards. And I feel really good.
A few more of the fashion industry’s dirty little secrets, which emphasized my loyalty for shopping secondhand:
1- 1.5 trillion liters of water are used every year to produce fashion*
2- 13 million tons of textiles go into landfill every year in the US alone**
Secondhand’s not sounding so bad now, is it? Again, I feel strongly that secondhand is the most sustainable way to shop because of the enormous amounts of resources you are saving vs. buying brand new- water, energy, fuel, etc.
I hope you’ll join me this Saturday 4/27, 2-5pm, at the Goodwill RECLAIMED FASHION Event to shop with myself and nine other fashion influencers. Each of us has handpicked one-of-a-kind finds from local Goodwill stores that you can purchase from our personalized racks! This exclusive event includes a panel discussion, influencer meet & greet and concludes with shopping. I hope to meet you there so we can shop together and I’ll be sharing my favorite shopping & styling tips that can work for you and your lifestyle.
As a RECLAIMED FASHION influencer, you can find me featured on the Goodwill website sharing why I fell in love with shopping at Goodwill, what fashion means to me, and why YOU should come to our Reclaimed Fashion event.
Read more on their blog, but I included a sampling below:
1. Why did you fall in love with shopping at Goodwill?
First and foremost, shopping secondhand started as an environmental stance for me almost 4 years ago after watching the Fashion documentary TRUE COST, which shares the ethical and environmental injustices of the fashion industry.
Shopping secondhand is really good for the environment. Not only is it sustainable fashion, but it is the most sustainable way you can shop. You are rescuing unwanted items from otherwise ending up in a landfill, further polluting our land, air and waterways.
You are slowing down the demand on the fashion industry (especially the fast fashion industry) to produce faster, cheap stuff. Secondhand fashion reduces waste and helps to conserve huge amounts of natural resources that would otherwise be lost in mainstream fashion manufacturing.
When I relocated to Arizona last year, I was drawn to the great work Goodwill AZ was doing through their social media campaigns involving style setting influencers. They are doing great work to raise awareness of the secondhand fashion industry, promoting the circular economy, and raising the value of used clothing.
And of course, shopping at Goodwill I simply find the best stuff! There is no need to go anywhere else where the inventory is not nearly as diverse and comprehensive. You can essentially find every style, genre, etc. Whether you are a prepster, bohemian, vintage, glam, sporty, classic- you can find it at Goodwill AZ.
2. What does fashion mean to you?
Fashion is a huge part of my life! First and foremost, fashion is a means of expression- artistic expression, self-expression. It is a way to show the world who you are without saying a word.
Fashion is also a way to empower myself and to raise my confidence. I see getting dressed as a means to bridge the confidence you might not be feeling on any given day. However you want to feel, you can get yourself one step closer by dressing in a certain way. If nothing else- you'll feel better just by loving how you look.
Last but not least, your fashion choices are a way to show your values, I believe in wearing your values. For instance, I value our environment and contributing to a more sustainable fashion world, so I choose more sustainable fashion choices, such as secondhand clothing, natural fabrics, timeless and classic garments that will stand the test of time. Every item I wear is a statement. Just as every purchase is a vote for more of what you want to see in the world.
3. Why should someone come to the Reclaimed Fashion event?
Anyone that loves fashion, cares about the environment, and is looking to stretch their dollar should attend the Reclaimed Fashion Event! Plus, it's going to be a lot of fun and a great opportunity to pick up lots of style tips!
This is also a great opportunity to shop each of the influencer's closets [essentially] and get a sneak peak into how they style their life. If you specifically like my style and you resonate with my mission, I hope you'll come and shop with me and choose from the wardrobe I've curated from my own personal Goodwill finds.
We can shop together and I can offer my styling tips so that you go home feeling confident and well-equipped to restyle and repurpose even the items you already have at home. I promise, I'll make it worth it!
For additional details and to read about all ten of the Fashionistas of Reclaimed Fashion, check out the Goodwill website.
Make sure you follow @goodwillaz on Instagram, IGTV + Stories for more behind-the-scenes shopping coverage.
Where: Goodwill, 7850 S. Priest Dr., Tempe, AZ 85284
Cover Photo by Sky Hellier Photography
Photography by Sara Zork
Video by Ernesto Doubleu