In today's society, it is undeniable that fast fashion brands and retail stores dominate the fashion industry. However, there is a growing awareness of environmental concerns and the importance of ethical and sustainable fashion, leading to a gradual shift towards thrifting and upcycling.

To be honest, I hadn't been much of a thrifter and rarely thought about op shopping until the past couple of years. Growing up in a low socio-economic family, we often thrifted clothing and regularly shopped at op stores to fulfill our needs. But we also consumed from larger retail stores that sold new items or fast fashion at affordable rates. It wasn't until recent years that I realized the higher value and importance of thrifting compared to shopping at retail stores or fast fashion brands.

The value and importance of thrifting and upcycling sustainable clothing lie in reducing our carbon footprint in the fashion industry. The fast fashion industry is one of the largest contributors to landfills, which are filled with clothes that can take years to decompose. Moreover, the production of clothes generates increasing amounts of toxic waste, polluting water bodies and consuming energy.

I have always had a love for clothing and fashion, and in the past couple of years, I've spent a lot of time purchasing new items. However, entering 2023, my goal has been to thrift or upcycle instead of buying new items throughout the year. The best way I've found to do this is by shopping at Salvos Stores and upcycling their preloved clothing into something new.

Recently, I attended Afterpay Australian Fashion Week, and instead of buying a range of brand-new outfits, I decided to have my friend upcycle pieces from Salvos Stores. We ripped up a dress and turned it into a shoulder piece, added patchwork to jeans, and used the offcuts to create a bucket hat.

What I love most about thrifting and shopping at Salvos is not only that I'm purchasing preloved clothing, but also that these are charity stores that support a good cause and help people in need. Another important aspect to me is body positivity and size inclusivity. When I thrift at Salvos Stores, I notice that they include and celebrate ALL sizes in their stores, offering a solution that embraces diversity and inclusivity.

By consciously choosing how I shop, whenever possible, I prioritize thrifting and upcycling clothes at Salvos Stores. Not only do I have a great time finding unique and cool items while thrifting, but there are three significant benefits I want to highlight for you to consider the next time you need new clothes: thrifting saves materials and items from going to landfill, it reduces the manufacturing waste that ends up in landfills, and upcycling minimizes the use of natural resources (it takes over 2,000 litres of water to produce the cotton for a single t-shirt).

James is a Wiradjuri model, athlete, writer, and content creator. He is also a powerful advocate for Australia's LGBTQIA+, disabled, and Indigenous communities, using his lived experience to encourage others to take up space and unapologetically embrace their bodies. We were honoured to have James as our guest at Afterpay Australian fashion Week in May. You can find him @_jamesparr on Instagram, @jamesparrr on TikTok, or on his website at jamesparr.com.au.