As the second largest polluter in the world, the fashion industry has a lot to answer to when it comes to climate change. Our consumerist lifestyles have led to the rise of fast fashion, the mass-production of in-style items that are churned out at break-neck speed in the cheapest possible way. Unsurprisingly, this method of manufacturing is anything but sustainable, with our desire to look on trend having a disastrous impact on our planet.
So, in an effort to become more environmentally friendly, I decided back in March to ditch the high street in favour of a more sustainable way of shopping – Depop.
The Instagram of second-hand clothing, Depop is an app where you can buy and sell to anyone all over the world. Similar to Ebay but aimed at a younger market with more of a focus on fashion, the app currently has over 10 million users and recently raised $62 million to continue its US expansion.
Now a dedicated user of the online market-place, here are some top tips to help you get the best out of Depop and encourage you to make your wardrobe greener (although, maybe not literally).
Following accounts and liking posts is key
It can be slightly daunting when you first set up your account to be faced with an empty feed. With millions of items on sale, where do you begin? To start, advertise your account on social media to encourage people to follow you, who you can then follow back. Make yourself visible on the platform by liking posts, even if you don’t intend to buy the product, as other people will often follow accounts that have liked similar products to them. You can also look up certain styles to find accounts that suit your personal fashion taste, or search certain brands of clothing for potential items.
There are benefits to both generic and specific searches
Say you have an event coming up that you need an outfit for. Searching generic terms such as “prom dress” or “going out skirt” will throw up thousands of results that you can scroll through for inspiration. Once you have an idea of the kind of look you want, creating a new search that is much more specific, for example “strapless maxi-length red dress size 8” or “white off the shoulder long sleeved top size 12” will help you narrow down your results. Just like with online shopping, you can also apply filters to your search on Depop for specific sizes, brands and prices.
Once you have found a product, don’t stop searching
So you have found the perfect item, and your finger is hovering over buy now bottom – but your search isn’t over quite yet. By using the information of the product, you can now create a very specific search to see if other buyers are selling the same product. This way, you can check that the item you have found is the cheapest option available to save you kicking yourself when you realise you could have bought the same item for significantly less cash. You can also use the handy “more things you might like” feature at the bottom of the post; you may find a cheaper alternative here or something even better.
Always check the accounts bio and message the seller before purchasing
I learned the hard way that the item you fell in love with might still be on the seller’s page, but no longer available. To save you from disappoint and going through the hassle of getting a refund, message the seller first. Some even stipulate this in their bio, so make sure to check this before you hit buy.
Use retailers for inspiration
Just because you have given up traipsing around the New Look or endlessly adding to your cart on PrettyLittleThing, it doesn’t mean that you can’t use your favourite retailers for inspiration. They can give you an idea of what sort of outfits are popular or on-trend, which you can then search for on Depop. Whether it’s the exact item or something similar, you will often be able to find it on the app – and at a cheaper price too.
Give yourself plenty of time for delivery
One of the downfalls of Depop is that next day delivery is often not an option. If you know that you need an outfit for a certain holiday or occasion, be sure to order it well in advance to save you having to organise an alternative last minute. Sometimes sellers will post items first class for a fee at your request and in my experience most items have arrived usually within the week, but this can’t always be guaranteed.
Happy shopping!
