This is a story of a woman who decided she would never buy any more new clothes.
I am a 30 year old woman and 10 years ago, I made a decision to stop buying new clothes. It all started when I went for an island visit (unfortunately during monsoon) in Malaysia’s east coast, and I saw the beaches were filled with old single-use plastic and clothing. Confused at how clothes ended up in the ocean, I started doing some research. That’s when I found out about fast fashion.
Fast fashion is basically the idea of consumption of clothing that is extremely rapid. Constant change of trends and fashionable items means consumers keep on buying and buying to no end. The latest bag, shoes, or any other article of clothing. The global fast fashion market was valued at approximately RM 630 Billion. That’s when I realized they will always try to sell you things you don’t need.
I also found that fast fashion accounts for 92 million tons or about a garbage truck full of clothes being discarded every second! Once I realized what this was doing to our earth, I had to find an alternative solution.
Thrifting started to become too cool
In the past 5 years I started to notice a new trend of thrifting – where the younger generation would go to second hand outlets to find their new outfits. Trends weren’t just about what the runways were telling you, now it’s about how you mix and match your outfit.
Then they started popping up “curated” thrift stores where they could sell second hand clothes like a boutique. Specially selected garments by the owner, washed, cleaned and displayed. While the idea is nice, they were selling it at absurd prices. A t-shirt could retail at RM60 for a used shirt!
The more the trend shifts towards buying thrifted and second hand clothes, the more of these over-priced second hand stores would pop-up. To me, as a veteran thrifter, I have to say one of the best joys of thrifting is unexpectedly finding a branded shirt for RM5 – the thrill you get will keep you coming back for me. However with the curated thrift stores, each item was already selected for you.
There’s still hope
I will share some of my favourite thrift store that still sells clothes that are actually cheap, where you can get RM5 or RM10 items and if you’re lucky and patience, you’ll find really great pieces
#1 JBR Bundle
Image/Lemon 8 app
Address: 40, Jalan, Persiaran Industri, Bandar Sri Damansara, 52200 Kuala Lumpur, Selangor
This bundle store is usually at a warehouse, housing thousands of clothing items. You can easily spend 3 – 4 hours here. The low prices, good quality and well organized items make it easy to look for what you want. Pro tip: Go in with an idea of what you need, for an example: A yellow ruffle blouse. This will make your search easier.
#2 Jalan-Jalan Japan
Image/Salam Groovy Japan
Address: Lot L3-02, 03(P), Level 3, The, The Mines Shopping Mall, Jalan Dulang, Mines Wellness City, 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor
This bundle store sells second hand clothing and items from Japan. The pieces are always unique and interesting, giving a fresh twist to your wardrobe at an excellent price point. They also sell unique kitchenware like cups, mug and plates. Perfect for a quirky kitchenette on a low budget
#3 Kedai Bless
Image/ChristianityMalaysia.com
Address: 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Lot LG126, Lower Ground Floor, 1, Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Multiple locations available.
A second hand store on a smaller scale, this thrift shop is an initiative of a church. It is a social enterprise supporting local low income communities, where the money raised goes back into supporting the community.
And don’t forget, always wash your clothes and new items before use! Happy shopping & saving the environment at the same time!
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