‘RECYCLING OUTFITS IS GROWING IN POPULARITY’

Candice Quinn, 39, lives in Northwood, with her husband, Barry, 44, and their two children, five and seven.

Growing up in Vancouver, Canada, a very eco-conscious city, I was surprised by the fast fashion I found when I moved to the UK in 2011.

People seemed to buy cheap clothes, wear them a few times, then throw them away or donate them to charity.

The first winter I spent here, I wore a Max Mara jumper that I bought in 2008, and still wear now. At the time, it felt frivolous to spend over £100 on a jumper, however the years of wear it has given me makes it extremely cost-effective.

It really marked a fashion turning point for me. I realised that not only did it last longer, it also looked and fitted me better than cheaper versions that would fray or bobble after just a few washes. More importantly, it wasn’t going to end up in the bin after a handful of wears.

So, I began only buying quality pieces.

One of my favourite items is a gorgeous purple Coast dress that I bought in 2018. I wore it for a wedding that year, then my six-year anniversary dinner in 2019, and to another wedding in 2021.

Friends often tell me that they’d be worried people might notice if they wore the same outfits to different events, but in my experience, people just don’t care. They are far more worried about what they look like than what you’re wearing.

Rewearing and recycling outfits is growing in popularity, with the fashion industry slowly waking up to the fact that customers are thinking about the sustainability of their buys. In 2021, M&S made a range of clothing available to rent, echoing the call for a more sustainable fashion choice.

Investing in a few quality pieces might initially cost more, but in the long-run it can be cheaper. If more people learn to buy less, the savings to both themselves and to the environment will be huge.

Candice is the founder of MANISAFE (manisafe.com), selling UV protective manicure and sunblock gloves.