We all love to swap ’til we drop!
Eco-friendly R:evolve Recycle boutiques aim to give shoppers a fashion fix and a greener world
IT seems one person’s trash really is another’s treasure.
A report says more than half of the population are now buying second-hand clothes – and throwing fewer away.
Waste experts WRAP estimate the weight of clothing going in the bin has dropped by 50,000 tons – the equivalent of 300 packed jumbo jets – in three years.
Everyone loves a bit of fast fashion, but our environmentallyconscious society is shunning the trend in favour of striking it lucky second time round. Pre-loved clothes may be old but can prove to be gold if you get it right...
IT was a concept that came from the older generation who lived through the days when you had just one pair of “good” shoes and a single smart suit for church on a Sunday.
But R: evolve Recycle is proving a hit with people of all ages from schoolgirls looking for something that separates them from the crowd to businessmen wanting to look sharp for a job interview.
The project, which has three boutique- style shops across Lanarkshire, encourages customers to bring in their old unwanted clothes and swap them for someone else’s glad rags.
No money changes hands. Your second- hand stuff earns you points which you can “spend” on “new” additions to your wardrobe.
The aim is to cut CO2 emissions and waste through upcycling and recycling old clothes.
R: evolve, run by the Lightburn Elderly Association Project, has 3500 members and has swapped more than 39 tonnes of clothing since its inception two years ago.
Project manager Wendy Russell said: “We asked retired people in the community what they thought the biggest issues were and they said the throw- away society. In their day, everything was well used, and well worn.
“They even shared clothess between themselves.
“So that’s what we’ve intro-duced, a concept which allows the community to share clothes.”
Wendy, 37, added: “Researchh has shown most of us only regularly wear about 30% of what’s in our wardrobe.
“And around a third of thee things in there aren’t worn att all.“People underestimate thee value that the clothes they have hiding unworn at the back of a drawer could have in someone else’s life.
“Unfortunately there’s still a huge stigma around second-hand clothes. A lot of peoplee are happy to give to charity, butt not to take something back.
“We’ ve had some real treasures, including designer handbags and shoes andd outfits with the price tags stilll on.”
R: evolve runs “make- doo and mend” workshops, sewing classes and upcycling sessions, demonstrating how to get more wear out of your wardrobe.
And volunteers even go intoo schools to teach youngsterss how to knit and sew.