6 Sustainable Online Shops for the Perfect Back-to-School Wardrobe

Fast fashion, an industry sustained by the exploitation of both human beings and the environment, seems an omnipresent force in the minds and lives of many Americans today. From YouTube advertisements to influencer brand deals to journalistic puff pieces, brands like Shein, ASOS and Romwe are, unfortunately, everywhere you look. The Collective, as we have discussed at length previously, is adamantly against this trend. We pride ourselves on using thrifted or borrowed pieces in our shoots, and we are always sure to credit our sources at the end of every issue. That being said, it is extremely difficult to find solid, secondhand clothing shops, especially routinely accessible ones. While there are many thrifting options in or around Boone, size inclusivity can be a major problem as well as general location. These problems are made much smaller in the online sphere, where accessibility and sustainability thrive. While shopping in online spaces, users are able to sort by size, price, and even color. The fall semester is right around the corner, so if you're looking to build your wardrobe, online sustainable shopping is the way to go. Here are some of the hottest sustainable brands of 2023! First up is Magnetism. Magnetism is a curated vintage shop, selling everything from vintage clothing to books to home decor. Everything in Magnetism is secondhand and shipped sustainably with a “percentage of their sales being donated every month ... to organizations that support BIPOC and other under-supported communities.” Magnetism also offers style bundles, a more convenient option for those who don’t want to spend their days thrifting entire wardrobes for themselves.

The next shop is Little Sister NYC. Located in New York City, Little Sister offers a huge selection of secondhand vintage and designer pieces. While this shop is on the pricier end, you may find items from Miu Miu, Chloé, and/or Prada on their site.

Next up is +BKLN. Yet another shop in NYC, +BKLN offers vintage clothes, reworked vintage, modern day thrift finds and everyday accessories. They specialize in more casual clothing, offering a wide variety of upcycled crewnecks and hoodies. +BKLN has a particular focus on sustainable clothing for women sizes 12+, offering a wide variety of fits and shapes within its pieces.

The last curated vintage shop is Berriez. Berriez carries both curated vintage and reworked vintage, often collaborating with other artists and emerging designers in order to do so. They focus a lot of their stock on “plus clothing and accessories” and are sure to highlight the many talents of the designers they collaborate with.

Though not a thrift shop, Fashion Brand Company is one of many ethical online clothing brands. Most of their pieces are made in relatively small batches, and they use fabric scraps for certain garments. They specialize in oddball pieces such as their “Bikini Bod Zip-up Sweater” and “Manos Cloak.”

Last but not least is ARQ. ARQ specializes in undergarments, but they also make tops, shorts, and bathing suits. They use fabric scraps in some of their garments and, like many of these shops, are owned and operated within the United States.

Though most of the pieces on these sites are quite expensive, it is important to consider their price-per-wear. For example, if you buy a dress from a fast fashion site for $10 and wear it once before it rips, your price-per-wear is $10. But if you buy a dress from a vintage site for $50 and wear it 20 times, your price-per-wear is $2.50. The conclusion is simple: in purchasing higher quality pieces, you are getting more for your money. It is important to try to shop sustainably when you can (if you’re planning to shop at all). We at The Collective highly encourage sustainable shopping locally as well as online. So next time you’re looking to spice up your closet, your bookshelf, or even your home, remember these online spaces. Happy shopping!