NICHE CLOTHING: IT'S EASIER TO FIND THAN YOU THINK

Dressing alternatively, or just any way different from the norm, can feel quite excluding. Many feel like their options are very limited, using websites such as Amazon and Shein out of what they believe is necessity, but this is not completely true.

In this article, I will show you four alternative options which you can use instead of funding the fast fashion industry.

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1. CHARITY SHOPS (NO, HONESTLY, JUST HAVE A LOOK)

Why wait for something to be shipped to your door when you can grab it in town. Now, stay with me on this one. Charity shops; infamous for being filled with clothing that nobody wants. But that stereotype is not exactly true.

Charity shops are great for people who shop for niche clothing styles for a number of reasons, yet we disregard them so quickly. But if you just go to one (the bigger, the better) and have a good look around - get stuck in, really dig through the clothes - then you'd be surprised with what you find. Leather jackets, gothic clothing, band shirts, plain jeans perfect for ripping - it's all there. I'd say a solid 40% of my wardrobe now is filled with things I found in the charity shop. And the best part is, It's dirt cheap. £1 for a pair of ripped jeans? 50p for a band shirt? You can't get prices like these anywhere else, so give it a try. I promise it'll be worth it.

2. DEPOP

This app and website are a gold mine for alternative fashion, and here's why. Say you've committed a Retake Rebirth Resell cardinal sin and had a little look on a fast fashion brand's website (It's okay, we forgive you), and say you find something you like. Well, why not buy it on Depop instead?

Seriously, pretty much any alternative clothing you want to buy, you can always find someone selling it second-hand on Depop. Just type in a description of the product and you'll soon see so many sellers reselling similar items or the exact same one, and typically for half price or less. So why not save yourself a little money? Download Depop on your phone or take a look at the website, and you will see so much second-hand niche clothing that you won't know what to buy first.

3. ETSY

Ah, Etsy. A cute website where you can buy handcrafted items, weird crafts, and reusable toilet rolls, right? Wrong, and you can actually buy reusable toilet rolls on Etsy you know. I wouldn't, but whatever floats your boat. Anyway, back on topic, Etsy can be a great place to find niche clothing, be it second-hand from a seller or hand-crafted.

All clothing types can be found on Etsy, but if you're a fan of dressing vintage, this is the one for you. So many vintage shops up and down the U.K also list their products on Etsy. So if you're feeling like you wanna dress like you came straight from the 80's definitely check this one out.

And some sellers even make the clothing themselves which is also an option. It means that you are buying somewhat local and you won't have to worry about the environmental impact of the clothes your buying being shipped in from abroad. There's really some great options to pick from when it comes to Etsy, so I implore you, just have a little look.

4. EBAY

Ebay; the big second-hand juggernaut which cuts close to Amazon. Ebay isn't exactly the best business to support when it comes to fast fashion and eco-friendly living - as it does sell a lot of fast fashion products and engage in some less than climate-friendly activities - but if you're all out of options, why not have a look at some of the independent sellers.

A lot of individuals resell their old clothing and items on Ebay, so it's always good to have a look for something you're interested in on there if it's not available on Depop or other second-hand sites. There are so many more sellers on Ebay when compared to Depop, but of course, they have to pay commission to Ebay, which isn't ideal. But, if you can't find what you want anywhere else, take a look on Ebay and try to buy from local, independent sellers.

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So, here we are, at the end of my list, and I hope you've learned about some new ways to shop for alternative clothing. Honestly, a lot of people gloss over these options when it comes to buying niche clothing, so they're an absolute gold mine filled with options just waiting to be discovered.

So, the next time you need to buy something - a new pair of shoes, a new pair of jeans - consider popping into your local charity shops first and then second-hand websites, because I'm sure you will find something without the need to burn a hole in your pocket.