IN previous posts I ranted about the slow fashion movement, a movement all about a return to high quality fabrics and finishes over cheap and nasty “disposable” clothing. In more recent times op shops have had to battle with a glut of these cheap T-shirts and poorly made garments, much of them eventually thrown out as textile waste, turned into rags for industry, or more recently, recycled for use by the carpeting and flooring industry.

While buying better made clothing, of higher quality fabrics or natural fibres is a step in the right direction and a fantastic way to exercise your consumer power, these items still carry higher price tags. It is possible, however, to buy high quality items, sometimes designer labels, for next to nix at op shops.

TIP #3: Check the label and the finishing. Natural fibres like cotton and wool stand the test of time, wool in particular adding to the cost of garments. Designer labels will be, in the main, better made and finished. Check for missing buttons and split seams and check to see whether any alterations have been made to the garment by the previous owner. Do take a whiff of your chosen item. I have sadly put fantastic pieces back on the rack because I know a good wash won't remove the smell, or a stain. Lastly, before you get to the cash register, hold your chosen garment up to the light and check for holes. The tiny runs of silverfish holes in woollen garments are easy to detect once the fabric is held up to the light.