Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
Look who’s talking: My Recycled Wardrobe’s Mia Yealands
MY Recycled Wardrobe owner Mia Yealands wants to bring more mindfulness to the fashion industry in Blenheim so has opened a recycled clothing store on Wynen Street.
What is the draw with preloved clothes?
The reasoning for buying recycled clothing is it’s economical and it’s helping to stop the increasing amount of new clothing out there. The problem is the amount of clothing that is being thrown out and not re-used. I have always been a thrifty shopper and buying recycled clothing is nothing new, I want people to consciously start buying recycled clothing as a first option instead of buying new. We have become such a throw away society with no regard to where all the things we throw away go!
What is the problem with buying new clothes from Glassons or Kmart?
It’s not the businesses themselves, it’s the consumers who have been introduced to a buy cheap and replace once it’s broken attitude. People would fix things, now it’s not worth it because of cheap items. If you bought something of quality you would look after it better and value it more. Also the idea of having more items, crazy, I had one pair of jeans when I was a teenager, my sister now has about 20 pairs. Why?
Where are you sourcing your garments?
I am sourcing a lot of garments from Wellington, online, and my own wardrobe. I want to bring more choice to the women of Blenheim, show them what’s out there.
You’re quite the entrepreneur, what other businesses have you been a part of and what inspired you to start this business?
This is my second adventure, first being Love Thy Curry, now MY Recycled Wardrobe. It just feels right to me, I don’t know why. Some things come naturally if you are really true to yourself. Clothing is allegedly one of the highest polluting industries, will your idea reduce the industry’s environmental impact?
Will you be stocking men’s clothing?
We won’t be stocking men’s clothing.