Take the Vinnies #prelovedpledge to help both people and the planet

At Australian Fashion Week this year, talented stylist Paul Versace of Styled by Bloom chose to adorn high profile influencers in simple-yet-glam outfits paired with sophisticated accessories, all sourced from a retail store that you may never have expected to contribute to runway looks… the garments being modelled at red carpet events were actually purchased second-hand from Vinnies.

In the fashion world, this small but impactful movement is gaining traction. The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters globally, and the fashion gurus who set the trends know that something needs to be done about this problem. A few celebrity Australians (such as Gina Chick, winner of Alone Australia Season 1) have made it public knowledge that they shop for clothing second-hand, which is pushing more and more people to join the pre-loved movement.

As World Environment Day comes around, it would be wise for us all to consider our shopping habits and consider whether we actually need to purchase new clothing, when there is so much that has already been made. Vinnies saw 3.2 million kilograms of donated textiles pass through our distribution centres in NSW last financial year, which shows that massive amounts of discarded fashion items are en route to op shops around the state.

We’re asking Australians to adopt a Vinnies #prelovedpledge.

The pledge is a challenge to forgo new garments, and instead to shop only for pre-loved treasures for a set amount of time.

Will a Vinnies #prelovedpledge truly make a difference? Absolutely. Beyond the obvious financial savings, second-hand fashion offers substantial environmental and charitable benefits. By choosing pre-loved over new, we can reduce our carbon footprint as well as fund essential services for those in need.

So if you’re ready to update your wardrobe in a feel good way that will help people and the planet, we dare you to dive headfirst into a Vinnies #prelovedpledge and make a tangible impact, one purchase at a time.

What is the Vinnies #prelovedpledge?

This pledge is a commitment to purchase only pre-loved clothing for a set period, which should be as long as you think you can manage it. A month? A year? Until Christmas? Choose a date and make it known to your family and friends that you won’t be buying any new clothing until then!

Will a #prelovedpledge really make an impact?

On top of reducing the number of dollars that are leaving your wallet (hello, savings!), second-hand fashion has a number of environmental and charitable benefits that you might be surprised to learn about.

Environmental impact:

As we mentioned on Earth Day this year, buying clothing pre-loved instead of new is better for the planet. The environmental impact of a #prelovedpledge can be significant - use the Charitable Recycling Australia ReuseCalculator to find out just how much CO2 is saved. If you pledge for a month and get two tees, a jumper, some shorts and a pair of jeans at Vinnies stores, you’d be saving approximately 67kg of CO2 emissions… that’s the equivalent of 34 trees absorbing CO2 in a day!

Charitable impact:

When you purchase clothing through Vinnies, you are helping to raise funds for charity. Last financial year, Vinnies sold 3.9 million pieces of clothing and our shops raised more than $78 million to fund the work of St Vincent de Paul Society NSW.

This money that is raised through sales allows us to operate vital services and programs in the community. That could mean helping people experiencing homelessness, assisting those who are escaping domestic and family violence, or tending to families who are struggling to put food on the table.

Every time you make a purchase at Vinnies, you can feel good knowing that the money goes towards helping people in need.

If you buy something in a Vinnies shop…

How to update your wardrobe during a Vinnies #prelovedpledge

Updating your wardrobe during a Vinnies #prelovedpledge doesn’t have to be daunting. Here’s a few ideas on how you could acquire a flashy new outfit for a friend’s birthday party or repurpose an old pair of ripped jeans for another few months of wear:

• Browse the fashion racks at Vinnies stores! Find your local shop here.
• Host a clothing swap with your peers, or attend a swap event in your local area.
• Upcycle an old garment into something new, such as transforming jeans into cut-offs or turning a button up shirt into a cute crop top. You don’t even need sewing skills (though these will obviously come in handy) to get started with upcycling - experiment with a pair of sharp scissors, safety pins, fabric glue, iron-on patches or decorative ribbon when sprucing up an old garment.
• Research the art of clothing repair, including visible mending.

Share your Vinnies #prelovedpledge

Your pledge participation not only promotes your own sustainability efforts, but can also inspire others to join the cause. Show us how you’re doing by using the #prelovedpledge hashtag and tag @vinniesnsw in your social media posts. Here’s some ideas on what to post about:

• Explainer video: Why am I taking the Vinnies #prelovedpledge?
• Follow along on a visit to my local @VinniesNSW shop during my #prelovedpledge
• Progress report: How’s my Vinnies #prelovedpledge going so far?
• How much money have I saved on clothes during my Vinnies #prelovedpledge?
• My favourite finds from the Vinnies #prelovedpledge
• Revealed: The environmental impact of my #prelovedpledge (use the Charitable Recycling Australia ReuseCalculator)