by Fifi Khudhairi

Let’s talk secondhand fashion. I have always been a huge fan of charity shops - my love for the ol’ charity shop dates back to my 15-year-old self looking for vintage broaches to pair with my beloved Topshop denim jacket (noughties fashuun).

When I first started buying second-hand clothes I don’t think it had much to do with sustainability, although I did like the idea of giving garms a second lease of life. It was more about individuality. I loved mixing my high street purchases with one-off gems I had found rummaging the shelves of my local charity shop.

Fast forward 15 years and I still struggle to pass a charity shop without popping inside. Just in case I find a rare gem (my prize possession is a pair of secondhand Chloé cream trousers I found in a London charity shop).

Now that there is an even greater awareness of environmental issues, a lot of us are all becoming more conscious of the ethical impact of our wardrobes - making the humble charity shop a perfect place to get your next fashion fix.

I also want to point out that I am very much aware that I am someone who is in a position to shop secondhand out of choice as opposed to necessity, but said position means I am trying to be more mindful of my fashion consumption and the ability to make more sustainable choices I (I ain’t perfect).

The London charity shop scene is booming and if you’re the kind of person that doesn’t object to the odd rummage you could find yourself some real treasures plus it has the added feel-good bonus of giving to a good cause. 

I am a big fan of mixing sustainable garms with vintage or second-hand clothing to create unique outfits. So, I decided to have a look around two Peckham’s boutique-style charity shops (which we think are the best charity shops in South East London) to see what I could find to pair with our new Living sustainable embroidered tiger tee and sweatshirt. 

The first charity shop I checked out was Traid Peckham which has a carefully curated selection of clothing ranging from vintage to designer, which means there is plenty of cool clothes waiting to be rehomed. The money raised through Traid shops goes towards various projects that help stop the exploitation of people and the environment in the global supply chain making our clothes. It’s also worth checking out Traid Peckham for their avant-garde window displays alone - it’s really a work of art.

The other cool charity shop in Peckham is the brand new Crisis Peckham shop. Forget thrifting through piles of tat. This London charity shop could easily be mistaken for a trendy boutique. The rails are neatly organised in ranges and size order, making it even easier to find something pre-loved - there is also a little cafe area, so you can grab a flat white whilst perusing the rails. Funds from the Crisis shop and cafe goes towards important projects to help end homelessness in the UK.

It’s more important than ever to be aware of our fashion consumption and understanding where our clothes are made. So, where you can - try and shop sustainably and definitely take a trip to your local charity shop and challenge yourself to find a trendy pre-loved outfit.