The 2018 ABC documentary, War on Waste, revealed that the average Australian purchases 27kg of new clothing every year and discards 23kg into landfill. As a country, Australia throws a whopping 6,000 kg of clothing and textile waste every 10 minutes – the second largest consumer of textiles per person in the world.

In 2021, Canberra local, Ren Stinson decided to participate in Fashion Revolution‘s 90-day challenge of only shopping second-hand. “I had just had my second child and was going through a lot of changes with my body. I didn’t want to go down that route again of buying a brand-new wardrobe.”

For some, 90 days may seem like no time at all. For Ren, it was long enough to change her shopping habits for good. After three months, she decided to continue the challenge, and almost two years later, she has yet to break her streak.

“The first six months really highlighted my spending habits,” says Ren. “When you shop a lot, you get into a habit of just buying without even thinking of where your clothes are coming from.”

It’s often said that the easiest way to break a bad habit is to replace it with a good one. While op-shopping is better for the environment, not to mention for your pocket, Ren emphasises that transitioning from second-hand shopping to mindful shopping is the next necessary step.

“Thrifting is definitely not a fix. You can fall into the same habits at the op shop,” says Ren. “For me, [mindful shopping] has been a long process and learning about slow fashion over the past few years.”

Through cataloguing her #NoNewClothes journey on Instagram (@aconsciouswardrobe_) Ren has amassed thousands of followers for her polished and curated wardrobe.

“When people think of second-hand, they tend to picture a really eclectic kind of style. Quite out there. I’d say my style is more minimal and very pared back.

“People get shocked when they ask me where it’s from, and I say it’s all thrifted.”

Ren’s top op-shopping tips

1. Shop for fit, not for size. “Sizing varies between every single brand – not to mention vintage sizing, where a size 14 back then is a size 10-12 today,” says Ren. “Also, don’t just stick to one section. Menswear has some incredible suiting options for women, so give yourself time to go through every rack and try everything on.” The best way to avoid impulsive op-shop buys is to give yourself enough time to shop.
2. With all these options at your fingertips, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. Ren advises to stick to pieces that you know you can wear for years to come. “Anything in fashion will come back around, so look for timeless pieces.” What makes clothing timeless? “Cuts that suit your body type, colours that compliment your colouring (be wary of trending colours), and pieces that can be worn multiple ways, dressed up or down with different accessories.”
3. Know where the gaps in your closet are before you step foot in the store. “Pinterest is great for this. I have a Pinterest board with my thrifting wish list.” Pay attention to the recurring items on your Pinterest board, for example, a tailored suit jacket. Not only will you be able to better stay on track while shopping, but you already know of countless outfits that you want to recreate with just one piece.

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