Australia's second-hand fashion industry is feeling the squeeze as costs continue to climb.

Op shops have long played a vital role in sustainable fashion and the circular economy. Not only do they divert tonnes of textiles from landfill each year, they also provide affordable style options for all budgets.

However, with inflation rising and disposable incomes decreasing, are these ‘eco-friendly’ stores in danger of going out of business?

Monica Schnieper has had her consignment store, Pelle Shoes, in Paddington for the past 27 years and believes in the power of recycling.

'I got it from my grandmother and mum,’ she said.

‘The idea of second-hand has gone from dowdy charity shops to a place where you can buy one-off, beautiful things,' she added.

'There used to be almost a stigma attached to it. People have started seeing the beauty of sustainability. There’s a trend, 100 per cent.'

Op shops are struggling to keep their business alive and are asking for financial support. Credit: Unsplash

To Schnieper, second-hand selling is more than a job.

‘It’s a direction. I’m very happy I’m part of it,’ she said.

‘It’s important to get the consumer and producers and the whole food chain, so to speak, involved, make them all accountable, and proud to be part of a bigger picture.’

Schnieper expects to see more government incentives for their field.

Australia is the second-highest consumer of textiles, next only to the United States. Around 7000 tonnes of textiles are recycled Down Under yearly.

A recent YouGov Omnibus research revealed the extent of the situation. Seventy-five per cent of Australian adults have thrown their clothes in the previous year, while 30 per cent have thrown more than ten items in the past year.

According to the Australian Fashion Council’s (AFC’s) report, Australians purchase, on average, 15kg or 56 new clothes per person per year. AFC called for a levy on clothing imports to reduce textile waste. However, a $1 million grant was given to the AFC to help address fast fashion waste.

The National Clothing Product Stewardship Scheme, Seamless, aims to reduce national textile waste by 2030.

'I don’t think there is enough support or even awareness for clothing waste,' says Yana Malyutina, who runs the Instagram account What We Wore with consignment clothes, shoes and accessories from her home in Lane Cove for three years.

‘I definitely think there should be better education and awareness in this field,’ she added.

Malyutina is also looking forward to more government support and educating the public on how big the fashion waste is in Australia.

Meanwhile, Clean Up Australia chair Pip Kiernan claimed that the government is part of the issue.

‘This absolutely needs support. There’s a lot of room for improvement,’ Kiernan said.

June Environment Minister Sussan Ley said that clothing textile waste was included in the National Priority Waste, along with electronics, plastic oil containers, and child car seats.

Aleasha McCallion, one of the authors of the report Textiles: A Transitions Report for Australia for Monash University, said they found in their research that the government should follow France’s lead and ban textiles from going to landfills.

The research recommended establishing a round-table event to unite stakeholders across the fashion and textile industry to co-design an Australian sector that is responsible and sustainable.

It also suggested identifying a comprehensive vision for the Australian fashion and textile industry, setting specific time-bound and evidence-informed transition targets.

‘We know that we need to reduce the consumption,’ McCallion said.

‘We’re always looking to co-design with the government and making sure that the government reacts to the importance of this. We always forget textiles.’

Venla owners Satu Raunola-Spencer and Minna Monaghan opened a ‘rent-a-rack’ shop in Mosman, Bondi Junction, and Balmain in 2021.

‘It just went off. People are very keen to recycle and help the environment,’ Raunola-Spencer said.

She added, ‘It would be great if there was a scheme of sorts for being green. A real shift has happened.’

Monaghan said, ‘You don’t always have to buy new.’

She wanted to see a marketing campaign to encourage people to think twice before buying something, saying there needs to be a shift in attitude.

They suggested tax cuts for environmentally friendly businesses and have more advertising for them.

Finnish expats also said that the government should try a ‘green scheme,’ where people get rewarded for practising sustainability and being environmentally friendly.

Miss Earth Australia Sheridan Mortlock—an ambassador for the Taronga Rubbish Run—has been ‘deeply passionate’ about global sustainability.

Mortlock said, ‘Fashion is a really easy way to make a change.

‘Op shops are a fantastic way of buying second-hand. You can find some beautiful pieces and think outside the trends,’ she added.

She suggested hiring clothes and hosting wrap parties to be more environmentally friendly. She urged the government to support op shops so they can pay more staff.

The NSW Department of Customer Services notes that it is indeed providing small businesses across the country with ‘free, ongoing and personalised support.’

‘This includes helping customers to start and grow a business, access government programs and support such as grants, rebates and vouchers, as well as provide information on the licences businesses need to stay compliant,” a spokesperson for the department said.

‘Small business owners can also connect with independent advisers with relevant industry experience, such as retail trade, to get tailored advice specific to their business,’ they added.

Despite the op shops’ call for help from the government, they are also receiving complaints from their customers. In a previous story, a woman slammed op shops on social media about how second-hand clothing is increasing in price. Read more about it here.

Key Takeaways

• Australia’s cost-of-living crisis is threatening the future of local sustainable fashion, with sellers and designers calling for government help to survive.
• Rising interest rates, inflation and economic challenges have put sellers of second-hand clothes in a difficult position, claiming they need more financial support due to their environmentally-friendly practices.
• Data from the Australia Fashion Council reveals Australians, on average, buy 15kg, or 56 new items, of clothes every year, most of which ends up in landfill, contributing to immense textile waste.
• There have been calls for more government support, education for the public about fashion waste and incentives for businesses that practice sustainable fashion.
  

What do you think of this story? Let us know in the comments below!

 

[BJM]

Australia's second-hand fashion industry is feeling the squeeze as costs continue to climb.

Op shops have long played a vital role in sustainable fashion and the circular economy. Not only do they divert tonnes of textiles from landfill each year, they also provide affordable style options for all budgets.

However, with inflation rising and disposable incomes decreasing, are these ‘eco-friendly’ stores in danger of going out of business?

Monica Schnieper has had her consignment store, Pelle Shoes, in Paddington for the past 27 years and believes in the power of recycling.

'I got it from my grandmother and mum,’ she said.

‘The idea of second-hand has gone from dowdy charity shops to a place where you can buy one-off, beautiful things,' she added.

'There used to be almost a stigma attached to it. People have started seeing the beauty of sustainability. There’s a trend, 100 per cent.'

View attachment 33738

Op shops are struggling to keep their business alive and are asking for financial support. Credit: Unsplash

To Schnieper, second-hand selling is more than a job.

‘It’s a direction. I’m very happy I’m part of it,’ she said.

‘It’s important to get the consumer and producers and the whole food chain, so to speak, involved, make them all accountable, and proud to be part of a bigger picture.’

Schnieper expects to see more government incentives for their field.

Australia is the second-highest consumer of textiles, next only to the United States. Around 7000 tonnes of textiles are recycled Down Under yearly.

A recent YouGov Omnibus research revealed the extent of the situation. Seventy-five per cent of Australian adults have thrown their clothes in the previous year, while 30 per cent have thrown more than ten items in the past year.

According to the Australian Fashion Council’s (AFC’s) report, Australians purchase, on average, 15kg or 56 new clothes per person per year. AFC called for a levy on clothing imports to reduce textile waste. However, a $1 million grant was given to the AFC to help address fast fashion waste.

The National Clothing Product Stewardship Scheme, Seamless, aims to reduce national textile waste by 2030.

'I don’t think there is enough support or even awareness for clothing waste,' says Yana Malyutina, who runs the Instagram account What We Wore with consignment clothes, shoes and accessories from her home in Lane Cove for three years.

‘I definitely think there should be better education and awareness in this field,’ she added.

Malyutina is also looking forward to more government support and educating the public on how big the fashion waste is in Australia.

Meanwhile, Clean Up Australia chair Pip Kiernan claimed that the government is part of the issue.

‘This absolutely needs support. There’s a lot of room for improvement,’ Kiernan said.

June Environment Minister Sussan Ley said that clothing textile waste was included in the National Priority Waste, along with electronics, plastic oil containers, and child car seats.

Aleasha McCallion, one of the authors of the report Textiles: A Transitions Report for Australia for Monash University, said they found in their research that the government should follow France’s lead and ban textiles from going to landfills.

The research recommended establishing a round-table event to unite stakeholders across the fashion and textile industry to co-design an Australian sector that is responsible and sustainable.

It also suggested identifying a comprehensive vision for the Australian fashion and textile industry, setting specific time-bound and evidence-informed transition targets.

‘We know that we need to reduce the consumption,’ McCallion said.

‘We’re always looking to co-design with the government and making sure that the government reacts to the importance of this. We always forget textiles.’

Venla owners Satu Raunola-Spencer and Minna Monaghan opened a ‘rent-a-rack’ shop in Mosman, Bondi Junction, and Balmain in 2021.

‘It just went off. People are very keen to recycle and help the environment,’ Raunola-Spencer said.

She added, ‘It would be great if there was a scheme of sorts for being green. A real shift has happened.’

Monaghan said, ‘You don’t always have to buy new.’

She wanted to see a marketing campaign to encourage people to think twice before buying something, saying there needs to be a shift in attitude.

They suggested tax cuts for environmentally friendly businesses and have more advertising for them.

Finnish expats also said that the government should try a ‘green scheme,’ where people get rewarded for practising sustainability and being environmentally friendly.

Miss Earth Australia Sheridan Mortlock—an ambassador for the Taronga Rubbish Run—has been ‘deeply passionate’ about global sustainability.

Mortlock said, ‘Fashion is a really easy way to make a change.

‘Op shops are a fantastic way of buying second-hand. You can find some beautiful pieces and think outside the trends,’ she added.

She suggested hiring clothes and hosting wrap parties to be more environmentally friendly. She urged the government to support op shops so they can pay more staff.

The NSW Department of Customer Services notes that it is indeed providing small businesses across the country with ‘free, ongoing and personalised support.’

‘This includes helping customers to start and grow a business, access government programs and support such as grants, rebates and vouchers, as well as provide information on the licences businesses need to stay compliant,” a spokesperson for the department said.

‘Small business owners can also connect with independent advisers with relevant industry experience, such as retail trade, to get tailored advice specific to their business,’ they added.

Despite the op shops’ call for help from the government, they are also receiving complaints from their customers. In a previous story, a woman slammed op shops on social media about how second-hand clothing is increasing in price. Read more about it here.

Key Takeaways

• Australia’s cost-of-living crisis is threatening the future of local sustainable fashion, with sellers and designers calling for government help to survive.
• Rising interest rates, inflation and economic challenges have put sellers of second-hand clothes in a difficult position, claiming they need more financial support due to their environmentally-friendly practices.
• Data from the Australia Fashion Council reveals Australians, on average, buy 15kg, or 56 new items, of clothes every year, most of which ends up in landfill, contributing to immense textile waste.
• There have been calls for more government support, education for the public about fashion waste and incentives for businesses that practice sustainable fashion.

What do you think of this story? Let us know in the comments below!

When I was downsizing about 18 months ago I began donating loads of clothing (a lot had never been worn and still had tags on). At one point I was told that they (Vinnies) preferred cash- I was gobsmacked. I reloaded my car and left. As I was reversing out someone said “we’ll take this lot” I laughed and said no thanks

 

[Lladnyl]

All the Op Shops in my area tend to think they are boutiques these days. Their prices have risen astronomically. Salvo's, you cannot buy single plates anymore they only seem to sell sets. (What do they do with all the mismatched crockery they receive?) I've even seen them with their tags at a higher price than the original shop, which was still attached !

 

[Gsr]

The op shops in our town will take anything that is in good condition. They sell all sorts of odds and ends. We have one op shop that deals in furniture, sometimes they have too much stock to take any more. Some of their prices on furniture can be a bit high, far better to sell cheaper and have more turnover I think. Our local council has a second hand shop at the tip, but if you want to donate items you have to pay a fee to dump them first, then the dump staff take them to their shop. A lot of people are annoyed by this and smash any items they take to the tip, saying they don’t expect to be charged a dumping fee for something the council sells and makes money from. Most of our op shops have regular sales of quality clothes at reduced prices which helps clear out a lot of their stock. A lot of our residents from less fortunate countries buy up big at these sales and sent the clothing to their families overseas. At the end of the year at least one op shop sells the remainder of their clothing stock to a company that recycles them into rags for industries to use. I donate anything that I no longer need or use that I would be happy to buy myself. I am now sorting out the toys we have, some from our kids, some from the grandkids, and will be donating a lot of them before Christmas.

 

[Luckyus]

Australia's second-hand fashion industry is feeling the squeeze as costs continue to climb.

Op shops have long played a vital role in sustainable fashion and the circular economy. Not only do they divert tonnes of textiles from landfill each year, they also provide affordable style options for all budgets.

However, with inflation rising and disposable incomes decreasing, are these ‘eco-friendly’ stores in danger of going out of business?

Monica Schnieper has had her consignment store, Pelle Shoes, in Paddington for the past 27 years and believes in the power of recycling.

'I got it from my grandmother and mum,’ she said.

‘The idea of second-hand has gone from dowdy charity shops to a place where you can buy one-off, beautiful things,' she added.

'There used to be almost a stigma attached to it. People have started seeing the beauty of sustainability. There’s a trend, 100 per cent.'

View attachment 33738

Op shops are struggling to keep their business alive and are asking for financial support. Credit: Unsplash

To Schnieper, second-hand selling is more than a job.

‘It’s a direction. I’m very happy I’m part of it,’ she said.

‘It’s important to get the consumer and producers and the whole food chain, so to speak, involved, make them all accountable, and proud to be part of a bigger picture.’

Schnieper expects to see more government incentives for their field.

Australia is the second-highest consumer of textiles, next only to the United States. Around 7000 tonnes of textiles are recycled Down Under yearly.

A recent YouGov Omnibus research revealed the extent of the situation. Seventy-five per cent of Australian adults have thrown their clothes in the previous year, while 30 per cent have thrown more than ten items in the past year.

According to the Australian Fashion Council’s (AFC’s) report, Australians purchase, on average, 15kg or 56 new clothes per person per year. AFC called for a levy on clothing imports to reduce textile waste. However, a $1 million grant was given to the AFC to help address fast fashion waste.

The National Clothing Product Stewardship Scheme, Seamless, aims to reduce national textile waste by 2030.

'I don’t think there is enough support or even awareness for clothing waste,' says Yana Malyutina, who runs the Instagram account What We Wore with consignment clothes, shoes and accessories from her home in Lane Cove for three years.

‘I definitely think there should be better education and awareness in this field,’ she added.

Malyutina is also looking forward to more government support and educating the public on how big the fashion waste is in Australia.

Meanwhile, Clean Up Australia chair Pip Kiernan claimed that the government is part of the issue.

‘This absolutely needs support. There’s a lot of room for improvement,’ Kiernan said.

June Environment Minister Sussan Ley said that clothing textile waste was included in the National Priority Waste, along with electronics, plastic oil containers, and child car seats.

Aleasha McCallion, one of the authors of the report Textiles: A Transitions Report for Australia for Monash University, said they found in their research that the government should follow France’s lead and ban textiles from going to landfills.

The research recommended establishing a round-table event to unite stakeholders across the fashion and textile industry to co-design an Australian sector that is responsible and sustainable.

It also suggested identifying a comprehensive vision for the Australian fashion and textile industry, setting specific time-bound and evidence-informed transition targets.

‘We know that we need to reduce the consumption,’ McCallion said.

‘We’re always looking to co-design with the government and making sure that the government reacts to the importance of this. We always forget textiles.’

Venla owners Satu Raunola-Spencer and Minna Monaghan opened a ‘rent-a-rack’ shop in Mosman, Bondi Junction, and Balmain in 2021.

‘It just went off. People are very keen to recycle and help the environment,’ Raunola-Spencer said.

She added, ‘It would be great if there was a scheme of sorts for being green. A real shift has happened.’

Monaghan said, ‘You don’t always have to buy new.’

She wanted to see a marketing campaign to encourage people to think twice before buying something, saying there needs to be a shift in attitude.

They suggested tax cuts for environmentally friendly businesses and have more advertising for them.

Finnish expats also said that the government should try a ‘green scheme,’ where people get rewarded for practising sustainability and being environmentally friendly.

Miss Earth Australia Sheridan Mortlock—an ambassador for the Taronga Rubbish Run—has been ‘deeply passionate’ about global sustainability.

Mortlock said, ‘Fashion is a really easy way to make a change.

‘Op shops are a fantastic way of buying second-hand. You can find some beautiful pieces and think outside the trends,’ she added.

She suggested hiring clothes and hosting wrap parties to be more environmentally friendly. She urged the government to support op shops so they can pay more staff.

The NSW Department of Customer Services notes that it is indeed providing small businesses across the country with ‘free, ongoing and personalised support.’

‘This includes helping customers to start and grow a business, access government programs and support such as grants, rebates and vouchers, as well as provide information on the licences businesses need to stay compliant,” a spokesperson for the department said.

‘Small business owners can also connect with independent advisers with relevant industry experience, such as retail trade, to get tailored advice specific to their business,’ they added.

Despite the op shops’ call for help from the government, they are also receiving complaints from their customers. In a previous story, a woman slammed op shops on social media about how second-hand clothing is increasing in price. Read more about it here.

Key Takeaways

• Australia’s cost-of-living crisis is threatening the future of local sustainable fashion, with sellers and designers calling for government help to survive.
• Rising interest rates, inflation and economic challenges have put sellers of second-hand clothes in a difficult position, claiming they need more financial support due to their environmentally-friendly practices.
• Data from the Australia Fashion Council reveals Australians, on average, buy 15kg, or 56 new items, of clothes every year, most of which ends up in landfill, contributing to immense textile waste.
• There have been calls for more government support, education for the public about fashion waste and incentives for businesses that practice sustainable fashion.

What do you think of this story? Let us k

Australia's second-hand fashion industry is feeling the squeeze as costs continue to climb.

Op shops have long played a vital role in sustainable fashion and the circular economy. Not only do they divert tonnes of textiles from landfill each year, they also provide affordable style options for all budgets.

However, with inflation rising and disposable incomes decreasing, are these ‘eco-friendly’ stores in danger of going out of business?

Monica Schnieper has had her consignment store, Pelle Shoes, in Paddington for the past 27 years and believes in the power of recycling.

'I got it from my grandmother and mum,’ she said.

‘The idea of second-hand has gone from dowdy charity shops to a place where you can buy one-off, beautiful things,' she added.

'There used to be almost a stigma attached to it. People have started seeing the beauty of sustainability. There’s a trend, 100 per cent.'

View attachment 33738

Op shops are struggling to keep their business alive and are asking for financial support. Credit: Unsplash

To Schnieper, second-hand selling is more than a job.

‘It’s a direction. I’m very happy I’m part of it,’ she said.

‘It’s important to get the consumer and producers and the whole food chain, so to speak, involved, make them all accountable, and proud to be part of a bigger picture.’

Schnieper expects to see more government incentives for their field.

Australia is the second-highest consumer of textiles, next only to the United States. Around 7000 tonnes of textiles are recycled Down Under yearly.

A recent YouGov Omnibus research revealed the extent of the situation. Seventy-five per cent of Australian adults have thrown their clothes in the previous year, while 30 per cent have thrown more than ten items in the past year.

According to the Australian Fashion Council’s (AFC’s) report, Australians purchase, on average, 15kg or 56 new clothes per person per year. AFC called for a levy on clothing imports to reduce textile waste. However, a $1 million grant was given to the AFC to help address fast fashion waste.

The National Clothing Product Stewardship Scheme, Seamless, aims to reduce national textile waste by 2030.

'I don’t think there is enough support or even awareness for clothing waste,' says Yana Malyutina, who runs the Instagram account What We Wore with consignment clothes, shoes and accessories from her home in Lane Cove for three years.

‘I definitely think there should be better education and awareness in this field,’ she added.

Malyutina is also looking forward to more government support and educating the public on how big the fashion waste is in Australia.

Meanwhile, Clean Up Australia chair Pip Kiernan claimed that the government is part of the issue.

‘This absolutely needs support. There’s a lot of room for improvement,’ Kiernan said.

June Environment Minister Sussan Ley said that clothing textile waste was included in the National Priority Waste, along with electronics, plastic oil containers, and child car seats.

Aleasha McCallion, one of the authors of the report Textiles: A Transitions Report for Australia for Monash University, said they found in their research that the government should follow France’s lead and ban textiles from going to landfills.

The research recommended establishing a round-table event to unite stakeholders across the fashion and textile industry to co-design an Australian sector that is responsible and sustainable.

It also suggested identifying a comprehensive vision for the Australian fashion and textile industry, setting specific time-bound and evidence-informed transition targets.

‘We know that we need to reduce the consumption,’ McCallion said.

‘We’re always looking to co-design with the government and making sure that the government reacts to the importance of this. We always forget textiles.’

Venla owners Satu Raunola-Spencer and Minna Monaghan opened a ‘rent-a-rack’ shop in Mosman, Bondi Junction, and Balmain in 2021.

‘It just went off. People are very keen to recycle and help the environment,’ Raunola-Spencer said.

She added, ‘It would be great if there was a scheme of sorts for being green. A real shift has happened.’

Monaghan said, ‘You don’t always have to buy new.’

She wanted to see a marketing campaign to encourage people to think twice before buying something, saying there needs to be a shift in attitude.

They suggested tax cuts for environmentally friendly businesses and have more advertising for them.

Finnish expats also said that the government should try a ‘green scheme,’ where people get rewarded for practising sustainability and being environmentally friendly.

Miss Earth Australia Sheridan Mortlock—an ambassador for the Taronga Rubbish Run—has been ‘deeply passionate’ about global sustainability.

Mortlock said, ‘Fashion is a really easy way to make a change.

‘Op shops are a fantastic way of buying second-hand. You can find some beautiful pieces and think outside the trends,’ she added.

She suggested hiring clothes and hosting wrap parties to be more environmentally friendly. She urged the government to support op shops so they can pay more staff.

The NSW Department of Customer Services notes that it is indeed providing small businesses across the country with ‘free, ongoing and personalised support.’

‘This includes helping customers to start and grow a business, access government programs and support such as grants, rebates and vouchers, as well as provide information on the licences businesses need to stay compliant,” a spokesperson for the department said.

‘Small business owners can also connect with independent advisers with relevant industry experience, such as retail trade, to get tailored advice specific to their business,’ they added.

Despite the op shops’ call for help from the government, they are also receiving complaints from their customers. In a previous story, a woman slammed op shops on social media about how second-hand clothing is increasing in price. Read more about it here.

Key Takeaways

• Australia’s cost-of-living crisis is threatening the future of local sustainable fashion, with sellers and designers calling for government help to survive.
• Rising interest rates, inflation and economic challenges have put sellers of second-hand clothes in a difficult position, claiming they need more financial support due to their environmentally-friendly practices.
• Data from the Australia Fashion Council reveals Australians, on average, buy 15kg, or 56 new items, of clothes every year, most of which ends up in landfill, contributing to immense textile waste.
• There have been calls for more government support, education for the public about fashion waste and incentives for businesses that practice sustainable fashion.

What do you think of this story? Let us know in the comments below!

I've been searching Op-shops for quite a while now, trying to get hold of the older style waistcoat, at the the moment nothing, although every shop had them still c’est la vie .

 

[PepeLePew]

I volunteered at an op shop where they were selling plain Kmart t-shirts for $3.00 each ($2.00 brand new). Other children's clothing was priced up to $15.00. Quite often the clothes had stains on them or holes.
Yet there's another op shop in the same area that sells 90% of kids clothes for $1.00 each and they do a roaring trade in that area but not so much in the adults section which is way over priced for 2nd hand clothing.
When I do a clean out and donate, I give my goods to a local church group who don't go over $5.00 for adults clothing and children's clothes are priced between 50c and $1.00. This way I know that people who are doing it tough at the moment can at least afford to buy a few thing not just for themselves but for their children as well.

 

[mylittletibbies]

I donate things to the local op shop in my country town, everything is $1, even some brand new items.
It helps out those in need, the locals volunteer, and the profits are spent on things needed in the town.
Win/Win