Without a doubt, practicality was the top fashion trend of 2020. In the wake of a near-crash of the retail market in the early months of coronavirus, comfortable loungewear and leisurewear prevailed as did vintage and consignment items. Shiny, brand new luxury items and statement fashion pieces were not exactly on anyone’s must-have lists. Shoppers, as Vogue’s Emily Farra pointed out in a recent article titled “2020 Was a Big Year for Old Clothes: How Vintage, Secondhand, and Upcycling Took Off”, are simply adopting more ethical buying practices. This includes the recent rise in the popularity of resale. As she noted, “Circular fashion—i.e., clothing that re-enters the market or is upcycled into something new, rather than being thrown away—is undeniably the future.”
And, again, it’s just practical. As Vogue’s resident closet cleanser Liana Satenstein, aka The Schmatta Shrink wrote last year, even before the great retail disruptions of 2020, “the idea of a carefully curated wardrobe of clothes that are well-loved and well-worn makes far more sense than one packed to the gills with superfluous, throwaway items.” All of this is to say that, with the holiday shopping rush upon us, the most whirlwind buying frenzy we’ve probably experienced all year, perhaps the best practice may be to buy pre-loved pieces for our friends and family. And while there is of course nothing wrong with gifting new, luxe items and spoiling the most important people in your life, there is something special about unearthing a unique vintage treasure this holiday season and wrapping it up with a bow.
Thankfully, resale site Vestiaire Collective is making this ethical way of gift-giving easy for those of us interested in investing in the circular economy. As an alternative to Black Friday, Vestiaire is launching a #BetterBlackFriday campaign today, encouraging shoppers to buy secondhand. They will offer 70% off of select designer resale items, as well as donate a percentage of all sales on Friday to The Circle, an organization that supports women’s rights and protects vulnerable garment workers impacted by fast-fashion’s supply chain.
As Vestiaire Co-Founder and President Fanny Moizant explains, “we’re excited to introduce Vestiaire Collective’s #BetterBlackFriday challenge at a time when the fashion industry is considering how to build a more sustainable future.” She adds, “As one of the biggest shopping events of the year, we want consumers to consider second hand as their first choice. There are so many incredible pre-loved pieces from around the world looking for a new home and platforms like ours are here to give them a new life.”
In addition to buying directly from Vestiaire, there are many other ways to safely shop for consignment and vintage online this holiday season. No matter which platform you land on, the important thing is embracing the importance of circular holiday shopping, not only during this tumultuous year but in the years to come. After all, vintage and resale aren’t only going to help the environment and, in Vestiaire’s case, give back, but they are also the gifts that really do keep on giving.
Below, here are 14 vintage and consignment items to buy this holiday season for those in your life who not only adore fashion but also want to shop circular.