The pressure to shop sustainably and responsibly is at an all-time high as the world gets warmer, and fears over climate change mount. Fashion lovers are being barraged with media encouraging us to seek eco-friendly ways to satiate our cravings for a wardrobe spring-awakening, and to keep it local to do our part to stimulate the economy in our favourite towns nationwide.
With 20% of pesticides worldwide used on cotton farms, and blue jeans taking roughly 1800 gallons of water to produce per pair, buying second hand is a trendy way to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Brands like Natalie Camara’s Angel Seven (https://www.instagram.com/shopangelseven/) re a virtual reinvention of the traditional thrift store, combining the power of a talented stylist with legwork of a local vintage picker.
“My brand Angel Seven sources apparel and repurposes thrifted materials to create inspired vintage looks.” Says Camara. “My goal is to offer customers a sustainable shopping experience with a personal touch. Whether it’s an alteration, a customization or a specific request, my aim is to help people find the next piece for their closet or home.” Thrifting can be intimidating, and second-hand stores are filled with confusing sizing, unidentifiable textiles and bygone brand names. What really makes Angel Seven so special and accessible is the one-stop-shop attitude, utilizing Camara’s tailoring skills and knowledge of vintage clothing to personalize your shopping experience, all from the comfort of your own home (Angel Seven sells through Depop.)
Camara puts the looks together herself much like a visual merchandiser would in a brick and mortar fashion retailer, helping shoppers visualize trends come to life with the unique touches that make vintage so special. “While sourcing clothes is an accessible and rewarding hobby, most people don’t have the time to do so on their own, or they aren’t looking to put in the amount of effort it takes to find great vintage pieces. Vintage stores also tend to be more chaotic and overwhelming in the eyes of casual shoppers, most of whom aren’t looking to expend large amounts of time on the off chance that they might find something special.” Angel Seven takes out the guesswork, chicly displaying high-quality items that capture current trends without any super mass produced tackiness on their feed.
“I also provide personal styling consultations in person and over FaceTime or Zoom.” With the door to shopping second hand cracked open already, Angel Seven’s styling services pack an extra punch. With a little additional guidance cementing a vision or someone to push you out of your comfort zone, vintage shopping can offer more unique and special pieces than big retailers.
“If you educate yourself on the basics of fashion and learn how to put together an outfit that suits your own style, shopping for vintage clothing offers a more rewarding experience. A huge benefit of shopping vintage is that you are presented with a wide variety of options. Typically, the only variety offered by fast fashion outlets and departments stores concerns the size written on the tag. Through my work as a stylist I can introduce my clients — many of whom would not have considered shopping second hand — to beautiful vintage items that I have curated.”
Depop and other reselling websites have faced criticism over the gentrification of second-hand shopping, and the accompanying price gouging. Critics claim that a rise in popularity of vintage reselling has driven up the prices in second hand stores, forcing individuals who are tight on cash to go without fashionable or accessible clothing. While it is important to avoid overconsumption, Angel Seven is an example of a local business taking great care to put sustainability practices in place. “[Angel Seven] shops locally to support the community and cut back on vehicle emissions, uses packaging that is recycled and recyclable, uses thermal printed labels rather than ink, uses packaging tape with water activated adhesive rather than traditional lastic tape adhesive and encourages customers to buy more than one item by offering free shipping and additional discounts in an effort to cut back on shipping emissions.” If the choice is between fast-fashion and second hand, businesses like Angel Seven act as a useful avenue for even the most timid shoppers to explore the more eco-conscious alternative.
Depop is a superhighway connecting anyone to the pre-loved and reinvigorated garments of their dreams – one artfully curated click away. And individuals like Camara are doing much of the heavy lifting, taking a dent out of the fashion industry’s dangerous contributions to environmental destruction, the exploitation of garment workers and climate change. With time feeling more of the essence every day, maybe it is time to put reservation aside and recognize what a valuable place vintage resellers hold in the fashion community. Whether you are a seasoned thrifter with a busy schedule, or someone brand new to the pleasure of second-hand clothing, brands like Angel Seven are the backbone of any smart, savvy and socially aware trendsetter’s closet.
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