Vintage clothing and second-hand clothing are the great ally to create different looks and, above all, the most sustainable alternative to fast fashion. The idea of rescuing garments from oblivion is the best option to extend the useful life of clothing and thereby reduce the impact that textile manufacturing has on the environment.
But is "vintage clothing" the same as "second-hand clothing"? It seems that both concepts go together, but the truth is that there are some key points that differentiate them, and here we tell you what they are.
What is vintage clothing?
When we talk about vintage clothing we are referring to garments that were manufactured more than twenty years ago and that gain value over time. These garments have style and manufacturing characteristics typical of their time (prints, textiles, finishes...) that provide us with information about the historical context in which they were created. But the most important thing about vintage clothing is, without a doubt, the quality of construction. The process of creating clothing has changed so much in recent decades that quantity currently prevails over quality.
What is second-hand clothing?
Second-hand clothing refers to those garments that have been previously worn by another person. These garments can be current or vintage manufacturing. This means that vintage garments do not have to be second-hand and second-hand does not have to be vintage.
Why is there a difference in prices depending on where I buy my vintage clothes?
The fashion consumption model is going through notable changes; more and more brands are trying to find solutions to the climate impact of manufacturing new clothing. It is this increase in awareness in society that has proliferated the appearance of vintage or charity stores throughout Europe, increasing the offer of places to get this type of clothing. Friend, anyone who doesn't join the change is because they don't want to.
But is it the same to buy vintage clothes in a local store, in a charity space or in a flea market?
The reality is that the vintage clothing purchasing experience is very different in a specialty store than in a charity or charitable space. Most stores specializing in vintage clothing belong to a real person, like you and me, who buys their clothes from specialized suppliers and who selects - as in our case - all their clothes one by one. This means that by buying local you promote the circular economy.
It must be taken into account that these stores bear the taxes and fiscal obligations of a business, which causes the price of the garments to increase compared to other business models, but also enriches that "piggy bank" that belongs to everyone.
Unlike charities, which Although you can find clothes at a lower price, it is because the products they sell are received through donations, the reality is that they are not specialized places and their garments are not selected, so finding that garment you are looking for can sometimes be difficult. task.
Some belong to large companies disguised as associations and NGOs and their positive impact on the environment is doubtful. In recent years, several investigations have been carried out on this type of companies, such as this one from El Español on the famous phenomenon that sweeps Tiktok hauls, Humana.
The fact that these companies are constituted as NGOs means that their sales are tax-exempt, they receive different government aid and in some cases, the majority of their workers are volunteers.
These differences are what
Both options are equally valid, but the reality is that they do not respond to the same responsibilities, which is what justifies the difference in prices.