Sara Kupa, the founder of online preloved and vintage store Secret Threads, wearing New Zealand vintage. She is also co-founder of Christchurch-based sustainable styling service Malone. Photo: Supplied By Carolyn Enting* Once a haven for budget-conscious shoppers and vintage enthusiasts, op-shopping is facing new challenges: rising prices and an oversupply of fast fashion.
With brands like Shein selling new items for less than what you can find on your local charity shop rack, one could reasonably think that the days of thrifty thrift shops are over. Especially when Shein garments are reappearing in charity shops - and in many cases, with swing tags still attached. Opportunity shops are not only having to compete on price, they're subsequently dealing with poor-quality discarded fast fashion items donated or dumped on their doormats.
Rising operating costs are also forcing prices of second-hand clothing to go higher in many cases. According to Tom Doonan of Textile Recycling, which operates 28 commercial thrift SaveMart stores nationwide, 95 percent of clothing that is donated to thrift shops is not suitable for resale "as cost of resale is higher than resale to item". This is the case for online pre-loved retailer &Again, which is no longer accepting preloved low-priced fast fashion items, including Shein, on its platform.
Wendy Quach. Photo: Supplied On top of that, online vintage resellers are also being accused of picking the racks clean of the good stuff at a bargain and.
