Rachel Jones, Lecturer in Fashion Business at the University of Westminster, has spoken to Time Out about the future of vintage shops and the need to embrace sustainability.
In the article Jones highlights that the rise of fast fashion and access to cheap clothes has made vintage clothing harder to hunt down.
As a vintage shop owner herself she explains: “The golden era of vintage is coming to an end […] As fast fashion starts to become the most prevalent type of clothing around, it is much harder to find vintage.
“Second-hand clothing becoming saturated with fast fashion means that the quality of the vast quantities of second-hand clothing shipped around the world is rapidly declining. In ten or 20 years’ time it’ll be very hard to find good, cheap, second-hand clothing.”
However, Jones highlights that not everything is doom and gloom in the world of vintage clothing, explaining that consumers can make small steps to save the legacy of vintage clothing by focusing on sustainable shopping and selling.
She adds: “Sustainability isn't a trend, it’s a huge movement we should all be embracing.”
The article directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 12: Responsible Consumption and Production and 13: Climate Action. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Read the full article on the Time Out website.
Find out more about Fashion courses at the University of Westminster.
