Researchers investigate the growing popularity of consignment clothing in Guelph
Whether it’s finding a unique outfit, recycling old clothes or shopping local, Guelphites have many reasons for preferring consignment and second-hand clothing.
Geography Master’s student Liz Homer, along with her advisor, Prof. Roberta Hawkins, is discovering the reasons behind the consumption and distribution of consignment clothing and how it affects the community’s economy.
Homer interviewed nearly 40 women who had recently either purchased or sold consigned clothing, including a couple of local store owners.
“I particularly focused on women’s opinions, feelings and stories surrounding consignment in Guelph,” Homer says.
The research is focused on the female perspective because women are disproportionately greater consumers of the fashion industry. However, they are less represented at the designer level and often make up much of the unpaid labour behind clothing production—this is especially true for fast-fashion factories overseas.
[pullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]…to enjoy good-quality clothes that fit their budget.[/pullquote]
Fast-fashion, a phenomenon that became popular in the last two decades, consists of consumers buying cheap, poorly made clothing only to be disposed of in landfills a few months later.
Many of the interviewees felt that buying recycled clothing was a more ethical way to consume than shopping for fast-fashions. They also stated that buying consigned clothing still allows them to enjoy good-quality clothes that fit their budget.
Several of the women who did not initially shop consignment said they were influenced by friends who encouraged them to explore Guelph’s eco-friendly alternatives to buying from bigger corporations.
“Consignment and second-hand shopping feeds into Guelph’s economy, and can create a sense of involvement within the community for buyers and sellers,” says Homer.
Homer also asked the women how they participate in other alternatives to mainstream methods of consumption, which included trading clothing among friends, going to a farmer’s market for local food or getting involved in book exchanges.
This research aims to continue to fill in the academic literature gaps on the popularity of shopping for consigned and secondhand clothes in communities like Guelph.
“It’s important to be mindful of our consumption habits,” says Homer. “Learning why we buy certain things can benefit us socially, environmentally, ethically and economically.”
This research was supported by The Department of Geography at the University of Guelph.