Pre-Loved Market Perth: FOMO Fremantle to host second-hand and vintage market

While it can be dizzying trying to keep up with the ever-shorter cycle of fashion fads, there’s one trend that looks like it’s here to stay: sustainability.

As consumers continue to fall out of love with fast fashion, the second-hand clothing market is booming as more and more eco-conscious fashion lovers opt for preloved pieces.

Even global retail giants such as H&M are recognising the demand for second-hand. H&M last week launched its Pre-Loved second-hand sales arm, while Australian e-tailer The Iconic’s partnership with resale platform Airrobe is a reflection of the increasing appetite for preloved pieces.

The boom in dress-rental businesses and sites such as Depop have also made it easier than ever to shop sustainably, while an increasing number of celebrities recycling outfits — once considered the ultimate fashion no-no — have further fuelled the shift towards more conscious consumption.

“There has definitely been a surge in the demand for preloved clothing,” says Laura Park, founder of the Pre-Loved Market series.

“In recent years, the world has made a collective effort to live and shop more sustainably.

“The fast fashion industry is known for producing items as fast as possible to meet with the current market trends,” she says, adding that six tonnes of clothing go into landfill every 10 minutes in Australia alone.

“It’s becoming more prominent, especially in the younger generation who are learning to live in a more eco world. They are caring more about the planet.

“The culture of buying a new outfit for every occasion is becoming less appealing thanks to this sudden shift and understanding of the importance (of) sustainability.”

Jade McCready, owner of South Fremantle retailer Yeah Vintage, agrees fast fashion is no longer, well, fashionable.

“People are a lot more conscious where they spend their money,” she says.

“I find people, including myself, are looking to buy items that are multi-seasonal and fit their style over if it’s ‘in fashion’.”

And second-hand certainly doesn’t mean second-best, with a treasure-trove of preloved pieces out there just waiting to be discovered.

“It’s really easy to make the shift into sustainable fashion if you consider changing your perspective towards shopping,” Park says, whether that’s opting for vintage pieces or renting an outfit for a special occasion such as a wedding.

McCready says she herself shops from a range of different sources. “For my personal collection I op-shop, I go to vintage markets, and eBay, Etsy, Depop and Instagram are great for finding more unique pieces that are harder to come by,” she says.

Tips for shopping second-hand

• Park recommends looking for familiar brand names. “If you trust a brand’s quality and style, you can find second-hand pieces without paying the high retail price.”
• “Always check the item to see if it is damaged and always try it on or, if buying online, check the measurements,” McCready says.
• “Keep your wardrobe in mind,” Park says. “Think ‘what can I wear this with?’, or ‘is this a timeless piece that I can get plenty of wear out of?’.” McCready agrees. saying: “Only buy things that you love that you can think of at least three different ways you can wear it.”

The Pre-Loved Market is on at FOMO Fremantle on March 26.