PRONUNCIATION HOMEWORK
Second-Hand Fashion
Amy Wyke, a successful second-hand clothes retailer, talks about the evolution of this
industry.
Amy had told me that she mostly wore purely second-hand outfits these days, so when
I first saw her in her sharp, red blazer and pleated skirt, I assumed this was one of the
rare days when she’d decided to dress in brand-new clothes. Surely, if they were
second-hand, the red would be faded, and the jacket would have lost its shape.
However, Amy assured me that they were not. She admits, though, that she would
ordinarily wear something far more comfortable and scruffy.
Asked whether she’d always been a fan of dressing second-hand, Amy said, ‘As
teenagers, we’d make fun of the kids who wore used clothes. It was a sign that you
couldn’t afford new things, and no one wanted to admit to coming from a poor family.
Whenever my mum came home with something for me, I’d refuse to wear it, even if it
looked quite trendy. I was convinced that someone would somehow know where it had
come from. It might have belonged to one of my friend’s siblings for all I knew!
‘It’s completely different now,’ Amy continues. ‘Teens these days will happily admit
to wearing second-hand clothes. The fact that they are affordable is a benefit, but it’s
not their main motivation. After all, plenty of stores offer cheap, mass-produced
clothes. Even with many high street shops closing, you can buy them online, and
despite what is often said, these clothes can be well-designed and long-lasting. But
there lies the problem. They produce mountains of polluting waste, and young people
want to do their bit to prevent that.’
Now, Amy is one of many new entrepreneurs making the most of the trend in
second-hand clothing. It’s not all plain sailing, though. As Amy says, ‘With so many
competitors, you’ve got to find your edge. Some sellers specialize in designer labels,
for example, or clothing from a particular era. Of course, you have the problem of
sourcing the right clothes for your brand. Trends change as well, which could turn
around and bite you. Selling a bit of everything, as I do, means I’m not putting all my
eggs in one basket, but it means I have to find other ways to attract customers.
‘I’ve learned important lessons in my work, especially regarding money. I struggled
working alone and earning a pittance for ages, thinking it was more cost-effective than
taking on staff. I’m so glad I’m not doing that now, as I’m bringing in far more even
while paying out for two people’s wages. It’s the same with the website. The one I
designed was decent enough, but it has really paid off since I took the plunge and paid
professionals to improve the design. It doesn’t come easily to me, as I’m not naturally
a spendthrift.’
I asked Amy her thoughts about the future of second-hand clothing. After all, a
growing industry in second-hand clothes could hurt the industries that produce new
clothes, so potentially, once all our second-hand ones are worn out, we might run out
of clothes. Amy is more optimistic, however. ‘The second-hand clothing market has
brought in a new interest in adapting and redesigning old clothes or making them from
scratch. That’s something that really died out in the era of chain stores. So, in the
future, I think I’ll be stocking more of those kinds of clothes, which is great.’
