Zizi Sparks: Op shopping like looking for a needle in a haystack

You never know what hidden gems you will find in an op shop. Photo / File

OPINION

I'm told when I was a baby my parents always shopped secondhand. With three quickly growing toddlers, there was no point in buying new clothes as we'd only grow out of them within weeks.

They would often pick up items that looked hardly worn as other people's toddlers grew equally quickly.

I may have stopped growing, but it hasn't stopped me buying secondhand.

I remember reading about a fellow journalist who bought only secondhand clothes for a whole year.

She didn't limit herself to op shops. She trawled Trade Me and Facebook Marketplace and broadened her options.

While I don't think I love op shopping that much, and doubt I could go a whole year without buying a single first-hand item - I'll stick to new shoes and undergarments, thanks - I do enjoy it as much as any other person.

In today's edition, avid op shoppers tell Carly Gibbs part of the joy is the thrill of the chase.

I get it. In some of the larger op shops you can spend hours trawling the racks. There is a slim chance you will find something that not only fits you but suits you and your style.

It's a needle in the haystack stuff. But it means when you do find that perfect item, it is all the more satisfying.

On one occasion I found an exact clone of my favourite pair of denim shorts in an op shop. They were the same brand, size and style, just five years less faded. For $7, it was meant to be.

On another I found a set of four mini espresso martini glasses for $15, perfect for a girls' cocktail night.

The benefits to op shopping are plenty. There is price to start with and you aren't buying into fast fashion trends that are affecting the environment.

According to a Princeton University report from July last year, it takes approximately 3000 litres of water to make one cotton shirt.

The fashion industry is responsible for more annual carbon emissions than all international flights and maritime shipping combined and 57 per cent of discarded clothing ends up in the landfill.

Buying secondhand gives clothing new life.

It also is a chance to experiment with new looks without breaking the bank. You can try the high-waisted jeans for $10 secondhand rather than spending 10 times that brand new.

If you don't like them you can pass them on to another secondhand store to give them a third, fourth, fifth owner.

There is also a huge range of secondhand clothing. It's not all old and crusty. There are designer gems hidden in the racks.

So next time you need a new look for an upcoming event, try exploring your local secondhand store first.

You never know what you might find.