Vintage Finds For 'No Buy January'

Summary

All Of It: Episode Summary – "Vintage Finds For 'No Buy January'"

Host: Alison Stewart
Guest: Emily Stokel, Host and Creator of the Pre Loved Podcast
Release Date: January 15, 2025
Duration: Approximately 28 minutes

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Introduction

In the January 15, 2025 episode of All Of It, host Alison Stewart delves into the vibrant world of vintage and secondhand shopping. The episode, titled “Vintage Finds For 'No Buy January'," explores the resurgence of thrifting, its cultural significance, and offers practical tips for enthusiasts. Alison is joined by Emily Stokel, the creator of the Pre Loved podcast, who provides expert insights into the evolving landscape of secondhand fashion.

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Thrifting vs. Vintage: Understanding the Differences

[02:03] Alison Stewart:
Alison opens the conversation by inviting listeners to share their favorite vintage finds and clarifies the distinctions between thrifting, secondhand, and vintage shopping.

[02:40] Emily Stokel:
Emily explains, “Listeners might think it’s kind of funny that I use the word pre loved, but I’m really just about all things being reused. That’s what excites me the most about this is just the sustainability that comes when we reuse something that belonged to someone else before.” She delineates thrifting as seeking bargains in charity shops and secondhand stores, while vintage refers to items typically 20 years or older, a shift from the traditional 30-year benchmark. “Vintage items are usually more curated, priced a little bit higher, they’re usually more high quality as, because, you know, they don’t make them like they used to,” Emily adds ([02:40]).

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The Rise of Thrifting: Trends and Generational Shifts

[04:05] Alison Stewart:
Alison notes the growing obsession with thrifting, especially among younger generations, and asks Emily when she first noticed thrifting becoming mainstream.

[04:20] Emily Stokel:
Emily contextualizes the rise of thrifting, stating, “Throughout history we usually see a boom in secondhand or reuse… during periods of economic recession.” She highlights key moments, such as the 2008 economic downturn and the 2020 pandemic, which significantly boosted the popularity of secondhand shopping. “[...] More and more people are secondhand shopping becoming comfortable with that, which I love to see. But actually the market shows that there’s still a huge amount of room for more people to take on secondhand shopping,” she observes ([04:20]).

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Influence of Younger Generations

[05:34] Alison Stewart:
Alison references a Financial Times report on how young people, particularly Gen Z and Gen Alpha, are driving vintage trends with a focus on Y2K fashion.

[06:30] Emily Stokel:
Emily agrees, noting, “I think we’re seeing that now with Gen Z and Gen Alpha becoming really excited about Y2K.” She connects this enthusiasm to a nostalgic yearning for the pre-social media era, exemplified by popular culture icons from the 2000s. “The fact that they have now decided to re-release them 20 years later really does show the impact of that nostalgia,” she concludes ([06:30]).

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Listener Stories: Celebrating Personal Vintage Finds

Throughout the episode, several listeners call in to share their vintage treasures and experiences:

• Carrie from Rutherford, NJ ([08:07]):
  Highlights her friend’s business, Preservation Society, and their shared passion for estate sales and vintage finds.

• Maria from Newton, NJ ([09:04]):
  Discusses renovating a 1935 house with period-specific furnishings and the joy of owning unique vintage items like hand-crocheted towels.

• Julie from the Lower East Side ([13:47]):
  Recommends local vintage stores such as David Owens Vintage and East Village Vintage Collective, emphasizing quality finds like wool coats.

• Teresa from Downtown Manhattan ([15:10]):
  Shares her eight-year commitment to buying exclusively secondhand clothing, appreciating the craftsmanship and unique styles unavailable in modern retail.

• Arlene from Hell's Kitchen ([23:54]):
  Talks about scoring high-quality items like a cashmere coat and a custom-made Italian mirror at significant discounts, exemplifying the thrill of the hunt.

• Solange ([25:02]):
  Encourages listeners to seek vintage items within their families, cherishing pieces that hold personal and historical significance.

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Navigating the Vintage Market: Authentication and Sustainability

[12:22] Emily Stokel:
Emily addresses the complexities of authentication in the secondhand market, especially concerning designer labels. She warns listeners to be vigilant about counterfeit items and emphasizes the importance of platforms offering authenticity guarantees. “Authentication has been a hot topic… more about what it means for something to be legally defined as authentic or as vintage,” she explains ([12:22]).

[26:31] Emily Stokel:
On the topic of sustainability, Emily critiques major brands’ recycling programs, cautioning listeners about potential greenwashing. She advises, “Does the program operate on some sort of trading credit? … Is the brand transparent about what they’re doing with the clothes that you give back to them?” Emily urges consumers to scrutinize these initiatives to ensure they genuinely contribute to reducing overproduction and environmental impact ([26:31]).

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Tips for Successful Thrifting and Vintage Shopping

Thrifting Strategies:

• Embrace the Hunt:
  Emily encourages enthusiasts to enjoy the unpredictability of thrifting: “We love digging through things. That’s part of the joy… not knowing what you’re going to come across and going on that hunt” ([20:14]).

• Utilize Online Tools:
  She recommends platforms like GEM and browser plugins like Benny to streamline the search process, making secondhand shopping more accessible and efficient ([16:30]).

Quality and Fit Considerations:

• Fiber Content:
  Prioritize natural fibers such as cotton, wool, and linen for comfort and durability: “I’m looking for natural fibers… they’re more breathable… they tend to be more high quality” ([21:39]).

• Examine Craftsmanship:
  Assess garment quality by inspecting seams, fabric consistency, and presence of original tags, especially for vintage authenticity ([21:39]).

• Fit Optimization:
  Due to varying sizing standards over the years, Emily advises measuring favorite garments and comparing them with thrifted items to ensure proper fit ([22:45]).

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Conclusion

Alison Stewart wraps up the episode by reiterating the importance of community in the thrifting and vintage scene. She underscores the sustainability benefits and personal satisfaction that comes from embracing secondhand shopping. Emily Stokel’s insights provide listeners with a comprehensive understanding of vintage trends, ethical considerations, and practical tips to enhance their thrifting experiences.

Notable Quote:

• Emily Stokel ([26:31]):
  “It modifies how people consume, making it something that you don’t ever want to go back.”

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Final Thoughts

This episode of All Of It serves as both an informative guide and an inspiring narrative for anyone interested in vintage fashion and sustainable consumption. Through expert interviews and heartfelt listener stories, Alison Stewart and Emily Stokel illuminate the enduring allure of vintage finds and the cultural shifts driving their resurgence.

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Transcript

[Alison Stewart]

All of it is supported by Progressive Insurance. You chose to hit play on this podcast today. Smart Choice make another smart choice with Auto Quote Explorer to compare rates for multiple car insurance companies all at once. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates not available in all states or situations. Prices vary based on how you buy.

[Emily Stokel]

Listener Supported WNYC Studios.

[Alison Stewart]

This is all of It. I'm Alison Stewart live from the WNYC Studios in soho. Thank you for sharing part of your day with us. I'm really grateful you are here. On today's show, we'll learn about the new HBO docu series An Update on Our Family, which looks at the popular and sometimes disturbing world of family vloggers. And we will be treated to a live performance from jazz pianist Donald Vega, whose album As I Travel is up for a Grammy. That's the plan. So let's get this started with Vintage Under Consumption Core was the name given to people who made good with what they have. Rather than spend money, they might trade items with friends or spend time looking for goods in thrift stores. Some people are looking for good prices, others are thrifting because it's good for the environment. Many people do it, though, for the pure thrill of a good vintage. Fine, but the thrifting universe has undergone major changes in the past few years. Emily Stokel is a writer and the host of the Pre Loved podcast, which is a weekly show that features designers and business owners to talk about vintage and secondhand clothing. She's joining us now to talk about the state of thrifting as well as how to thrift efficiently and ethically.

[Emily Stokel]

Hi Emily, hi, thanks so much for having me.

[Alison Stewart]

Listeners, we want to hear about your favorite vintage finds. What treasures have you unearthed? What do you like about vintage clothing? Maybe there's a vintage or thrift store you want to shout out. Give us a call. 2124-3396-9221-2433 wnyc. You can hit us up on social media as well. Or feel free to share a photo on X or Instagram or just give us a call. 212-433-9692. I ask you this every year, but can you tell us a difference or what your difference is when you talk about thrifting, secondhand and vintage?

[Emily Stokel]

Yeah, absolutely. So listeners might think it's kind of funny that I use the word pre loved, but I'm really just about all things being reused. That's what excites me the most about this is just the sustainability that comes when we Reuse something that belonged to someone else before. But there is a difference within the world of second hand between thrifting and vintage. Thrifting is maybe when you go to a charity shop, you're looking for a bargain. This is when you're buying secondhand goods that have usually been donated to the shop by other members of your community. Whereas vintage is usually defined by its age. So when I first got into vintage Several years ago, 30 years or older was typically the age benchmark that we were taught to think of as vintage. But like many things, it's kind of sped up in recent years and it's, it's shifted much closer to 20 years or older. And I get it, I'm a millennial. I'm in my mid-30s, so it's been weird growing older and seeing styles that I remember from being a preteen and a teenager being called vintage. If you take the 20 year rule, that means 2004 is vintage. But that is really the difference is the consideration of the age. And typically vintage items are a little bit more curated, priced a little bit higher. They're usually more high quality as, because, you know, they don't make them like they used to.

[Alison Stewart]

In recent years, thrifting has become somewhat of a obsession, especially among the youngsters, although it's been around forever really. When did you first notice a shift to thrift shopping becoming truly the popular way for people to shop?

[Emily Stokel]

Yeah, well, throughout history we usually see a boom in secondhand or reuse of, you know, various different kinds come during periods of economic recession actually. So if you think about during the Great Depression or the world wars and the make do mend mentality that, you know, maybe our grandparents generation lived with, we saw another boom in second hand and craft culture and DIY in the 1970s, in 2008, this is when a lot of the major resale platforms like the Etsy of the world really started to take hold of the online secondhand world. And then I think we saw the most recent boom in secondhand shopping in 2020, during the pandemic. I think people are predicting that we're headed toward another big boom in secondhand fashion. So it has grown a lot, I would say within the last 10 to 15 years. More and more people are secondhand shopping becoming comfortable with that, which I love to see. But actually the market shows that there's still a huge amount of room for more people to take on secondhand shopping. So I think we're going to see it still continue to grow.

[Alison Stewart]

I'm speaking with Emily Stokel, the host and creator of the Pre Loved podcast and we want to hear about your favorite vintage finds. 2124-3396-9221-2433 wnyc or maybe there's a vintage store that you like to shop at. Come on, don't gatekeep tell us all. 2124-3396-9221-2433-WNYC. We want to hear about your favorite vintage finds. The Financial Times said that most of this driven most of this vintage driven has been driven by young, young folks driven by the revival of fashion from the 2000s. Stores like Awoke are filled with 1990s and 2000s items. Vivienne Westwood corsets, Jean Paul Gaultier mesh T shirts. I'm wondering if the gener this is sort of a just a conversation piece, but I'm wondering if our generations Gen Z, Gen Alpha, if they help determine secondhand shopping.

[Emily Stokel]

I think definitely. I mean people who are into vintage tend to be nostalgics. I think so. Like I said, I was born in the 90s and I would go vintage shopping with my mom and we would walk around the stores and she would say oh my gosh, I wore that when I was a teenager. I wore that when I was a teenager because I was really into things from the 1970s. So I was nostalgic for a period that I didn't grow up in or I didn't remember. And I think we're seeing that now with Gen Z and Gen Alpha becoming really excited about Y2K. You know there are socio cultural analysis of this that was like this was a pre social media era. They're nostalgic for that. And looking back to that, but yes, Y2K has been really popular for a couple of years now. Recently actually Louis Vuitton re released their very popular Y2K era collaboration between Marc Jacobs and the Japanese pop artist Takashi Murakami. And if you think back to, you know, 2000s era paparazzi photos with Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson, Regina George in the Mean Girls movie, they were all wearing these bags. The fact that they have now decided to re release them 20 years later really does show the impact of that nostalgia. And I do think that it's very true that it's being driven by the younger generations and resellers are stocking items that appeal to what people are after and they should be. It's good for business for them to cater to the types of styles that secondhand shoppers are looking for and to show them that they are available and there's cool things to be found.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's talk to Carrie, who is calling in from Rutherford, New Jersey. Hi, Kerry, you're on the air.

[Caller]

Hi. I wanted to call and give a special shout out to my friend's business. She and I met in the 1980s. She was the first person I ever saw wearing fingerless gloves that she bought at our church's church in our town's thrift store. And she now has her own business. It's in the beautiful brownstone mill in Midland Park, New Jersey. And her company's called Preservation Society. So she and I always text each other from the thrift store from an estate sale.

[Alison Stewart]

Look what we found.

[Caller]

And she also runs estate sales and does staging. And it's just a lifelong passion. Once you get into vintage, you are stuck digging forever.

[Alison Stewart]

Carrie, thanks so much for calling. Let's talk to Maria from Newton, New Jersey. Hi, Maria, thanks for calling, all of it. You're on the air.

[Caller]

Hi, dear. Thank you so much for taking my call. I am in love with vintage, and I'm also in love with thrifting. And my entire house is a testament to that. I got a house that I had to renovate. It was built in 1935. So everything in it I tried to find from 1935, the drapes, everything. And you start to really appreciate the workmanship that they had from those things. But it doesn't stop me because I've gotten the most beautiful compliments on a desired pocketbook I got in a thrift shop. And it isn't just that we're exploring the environment with this. We're reusing what, what somebody else made and gave us. The towels that I have, these hand crochets, towels that I have in my bathroom, people come and stare at them because they're all hand crocheted. They have. I mean, they're beautiful. I mean, I told my family, you can't, you can't use them, baby, but you can look at them, you know, because as well you could.

[Alison Stewart]

Thank you so much for calling, Maria. That's true. I was looking at your Instagram page and you were talking about coats, new coats that say they're wool, but they're not really wool, that you really have to look to old coats to make sure there will. Right?

[Emily Stokel]

Oh, my gosh, yes. I mean, your listeners are my people. They get it. But something that really frustrates me is I will see brands these days marketing a wool winter coat. And then you look at the consistency of the fabric and it's Mostly polyester. Maybe there's a little wool in there. And so I love. You can go into any thrift shop in the world and find a wool coat that is actually wool and will actually keep you warm.

[Alison Stewart]

I wanted to notice a couple of things. I wanted to check in on a couple of things that you noticed about 2024 and you talked about under consumption core. Do you think that's a trend or do you think there's something to that?

[Emily Stokel]

Well, I do think. I don't know if I would say it's a trend, but I do think that it is a reaction to the rampant over consumption that we've been seeing happen throughout the 2000s. I think back to 2010's era. Minimalism, the Mari condo effect, decluttering. Everyone was decluttering their house in the 2000 and tens. And so I do think kind of our consumption behaviors go in these extreme waves where we're really into reducing and then we maybe go out and buy more than we should. And I think that we might be headed into a period of people consuming less, which I think is a really positive thing. I know that there were some jokes online about people who were saying that really being normal is now trending, right, like just buying less, which is something that everyday folks do, keeping their stuff for longer. But I do think that it is something that does go in waves, and I think we're seeing it as a response to over consumption, but also potentially to economic downturn around these parts. We're all about it, though.

[Alison Stewart]

Another thing that you noted was authentication is kind of the wild west. What's going on?

[Emily Stokel]

Oh, gosh, yes. So authentication has been a hot topic within the secondhand space, particularly within designer markets. So something that we were seeing happen in 2024, but also a couple of years earlier was designer labels, luxury houses. They didn't really like resale platforms cutting into their market of being the ones selling luxury goods. And so you saw lawsuits coming up of brands saying that these resale platforms didn't have the right to resell their items, that they weren't techn of that house once they had been resold. It's really about more than even just counterfeits. It's kind of about what it means for something to be legally defined as authentic or as vintage. So this is something that I've really kept an eye on. And I think anyone who's interested in buying designer pieces secondhand should keep an eye on and look for things like ebay's authenticity guarantee when they're buying secondhand goods from the luxury market.

[Alison Stewart]

My guest is Emily Stokel, host and creator of the Pre Loved podcast. We want to hear about your favorite vintage finds. What treasures have you on earth. What do you like about vintage clothings? 2124-3396-9221-2433 wnyc. Let's talk to Julie from the Lower east side. Hi Julie, thanks for calling all of it. You're on the air.

[Caller]

Hi. Yeah, I'm a longtime lover of vintage and totally agree with, with what you guys are saying about wool coats. I've actually found some beautiful wool coats at this place, David Owens Vintage on the Lower east side. But yeah, I just wanted to talk about a couple local vintage stores. Like there's a newish place in the East Village called East Village Vintage Collective that is a great place to go. It's two floors and they're really priced to sell. So I really like that place. And yeah, and I also just wanted to mention the Met Opera Thrift store, which is now closed. But I'm sure a lot of your listeners were fans of this place for years because they had a lot of really high end stuff that you could get at like thrift store prices. It was a lot of like donors to the opera would bring their estate stuff there. And yeah, the last thing I got there was a beautiful like quilted wool jacket which would have cost me like three times as much somewhere else. So thanks.

[Alison Stewart]

Yeah, thanks for calling, Julie. All right, let's talk to Teresa from downtown Manhattan. Hi Theresa, you're on the air.

[Caller]

Hi. Thanks for taking my call. I also agree with the wool coats. I have way too many wool coats from thrifting. But I'm calling just to talk about how I think it's a really great sort of lifestyle choice. When I moved back to New York, the commitment I made to myself was that I wasn't going to buy any clothing that wasn't secondhand. And so I've maintained this for the last eight years, years and have bought exclusively secondhand clothes. And I particularly like the challenge of going to the old school like Goodwills and Salvation Armies, which I find in New York is especially challenging because we have a lot of vintage stores so they can be pretty thoroughly picked over. But I still find just amazing quality vintage pieces. And as your guest was talking about, it's the quality of the fabric that I really appreciate and finding. You know, like I old knitted Hong Kong wool sweaters with amazing just like intricate beadwork and this stuff just isn't made anymore and it's becoming harder and harder to find. So when you find a piece like that, it's just, it's a really exciting feeling.

[Alison Stewart]

Thanks for calling. So, Emily, you know, there are so many online retailers now for secondhand clothing. Thredup, Poshmark, there are many others. How have these online retailers change how people shop for secondhand clothing?

[Emily Stokel]

Well, to be honest, I think that they've made it all the more accessible. I mean, I think of, you know, when I first got into thrift shopping at, you know, 13, 14, really my only options were to go to the charity shops. But now with the proliferation of these online platforms, you can really type in just about anything that you're looking for and usually find it secondhand, even sometimes things new with tags. I think one of my best tips that I love to give people if they're just brand new into starting out secondhand shopping is maybe type in something that you know you love, the pair of jeans that you always rewear, and just check to see if that thing is available for you on a secondhand site. Another tip is I love to use a search tool called gem G E M and they consolidate all of these online resale platforms. So think of it like an expedia or a hotels.com for online secondhand shops.

[Alison Stewart]

You just change my world, right? You just change my world.

[Emily Stokel]

You don't have to shuffle between six different platforms. You search in this one place and you put in what you're looking for and find exactly what it is you're seeking.

[Alison Stewart]

I'm gonna think about that. During our quick break, we were talking to Emily Stokel, host and creator of the Pre Loved podcast. After the break, we'll get some tips on how to thrift. Stay with us. Here's a way you can support W in our centennial year. Donate your used car. We'll turn your old car into the news and conversation that we've been serving to the community for over 100 years. Many listeners have already donated their cars to WNYC. It's an easy way to support the station and you'll get a tax deduction.

[Emily Stokel]

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[Alison Stewart]

For over 30 years, our team has been reporting high quality news about science, technology and medicine. News you won't get anywhere else. And now that political news is 24 7, our audience is turning to us to know about the really important stuff in their lives.

[Emily Stokel]

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[Alison Stewart]

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[Emily Stokel]

And health news for More sponsorship information.

[Alison Stewart]

Visit sponsorship.wnyc.org you are listening to all of it on WNYC. I'm Alison Stewart. I'm speaking with Emily Stokel, the host and creator of the Pre Loved podcast. We want to hear about your favorite vintage finds. I love this text, Emily. It says, hi, Allison, lifelong vintage fan here. My number one favorite vintage find is my wedding dress, which was made in 1932 and worn only once before. I wore it last September. I found it on a vintage bridal wear site and it fit perfectly, no tailoring necessary. Vintage forever. That's a great story. Emily. Are you there?

[Emily Stokel]

I am.

[Alison Stewart]

Oh, there it is.

[Emily Stokel]

I love that story.

[Alison Stewart]

So tell us now we're gonna ask you for some tips on how to vintage how one should secondhand shop in an area where there's abundance of thrift stores. You said New York has an abundance of them. Can you give us some tips for deciphering? Is it worth your time? Is this worth spending the time to dig through? Do you have any sense of what makes a good thrift store and what doesn't?

[Emily Stokel]

Well, I think there's two ways to think about this. Some people like me and I think a couple of your listeners even express this as well. We love digging. We love digging through things. And that's part of the joy of it is not knowing what you're going to come across and and going on that hunt. So if you like that kind of thing, I think that there's so many thrift stores for you to choose from. If you're like, I don't have the time, I don't want to deal with that. I think this is the great thing about secondhand shopping coming online is it's just becoming more and more easier. I gave you my tip about gem, but another tool that you can use is a browser plugin called Benny B E N I. And basically you put this on your browser and when you're searching for something new, it prompts you. These are the items that are available that are similar to what you're searching for but available on the secondhand market. And I think that just goes to show that for everything that we are looking to buy new, there is usually a secondhand vers of it out there, whether it's clothing, whether it's something for the house, and once you can start to make those simple swaps. And I think this is the great thing about those online tools is it just makes it simpler for all of us. It becomes a habit and it just becomes something that you don't ever want to go back.

[Alison Stewart]

Do you have any keywords for identifying if it is high quality?

[Emily Stokel]

For this, I usually look at the fabric content, so I'm looking for natural fibers, things like cotton wool, linen. Those fibers are just more comfortable on the skin and they tend to be more high quality. They tend to be more breathable. And so that's something that I definitely look for. And sometimes, you know, more and more those kinds of things can actually tell you that a piece is vintage because unfortunately, things just aren't made that way anymore. Other things that I look for are I love tags that are made in the USA or maybe a made with a union label tag. I love to find those kinds of things. But you can also identify high quality if you're looking at something in person by just looking at the seams. A lot of it is by touch and feel. So maybe the fabric quantity tag has not, you know, been ripped out of the garment over the years or something like that. But by feeling it, you can really tend to feel that that is a nicer quality garment. So those are some of the things that I look for when I'm secondhand shopping.

[Alison Stewart]

What do you look for in terms of fit? A lot of places they don't have a fitting room.

[Emily Stokel]

Yes, well, it can be challenging, right, because sizing has changed so much over the years, so it's hard to know whether the tag on the label is actually representing what the fit is going to be. So I do recommend if you can try something on, to try it on. If you're shopping online and you can't try it on, bring a measuring tape either to the surf store with you, or bring it up to your closet and measure a garment that you love, the way it fits on you. So if you have a jean jacket and you love the way it fits on you, take the measurements of that sleeve length or the shoulders or how long it is on your torso. And then if you're shopping online or if you're in a thrift store where you can't try the things on, you can actually just measure the garment and compare it to that item that you know you love the fit of it. And that can be a great option if you're not able to actually see how it fits on your body.

[Alison Stewart]

Love this text. It says, just want to mention that there are men who love and wear vintage secondhand suits from the past. My collection is all I wear, and it befits my bow tie style. Thanks for sending us that text. Let's talk to Arlene, who's calling in from Hell's Kitchen. Hey, Arlene, thanks for calling all of it. You're on the air.

[Caller]

Hi. So happy to be here. I love the subject. So I'm calling in because of two of my favorite thrifted or vintage items, gems. So one of them I bought at during Black Friday because usually, you know, a lot of thrift stores will do a Black Friday like 50 off sale. And I got this cashmere coat for $12.50 and it literally looks like the one from the robe, the row that's like a rogue cashmere coat that retails for $8,000. So to Emily's point, in terms of fabric, like that's a huge thing for me. And there's so much to go around. You know, it was 5pm on Black Friday. The store was so like full and yet I found this item. And then the other item I found is, is my mirror. That's like my prized possession. I found it on Craigslist. I bought it for $200 off of this family who had custom made it in Italy for $1,500 in 1975. So I just, I love the hunt. I love finding, you know, quality items.

[Alison Stewart]

Thanks so much for the call. Let's talk to Solange who is calling us on I believe she's on line four. Hi, Solange, thanks for calling all of it.

[Caller]

Hey, thanks so much for having me. I just wanted to remind people that some of the best finds can be found from within your family and not going to a shop and purchasing and spending money or, you know, clicking and sending and wasting gas and energy. The two of my most prized possessions are from my aunt and my ex husband's grandmother. One is a terry cloth jumpsuit, not jumpsuit, sorry, sweater, a bikini from the 60s that my aunt used to wear. And then the other is a fur coat that is from the 50s from my ex grandmother, I guess I would say, or grandmother in law. And to walk around and just think about like when they were wearing it, who they were, there's such a strong connection to just the powerful women and what they were doing. And it just makes it even more special to be able to have rated their closets and their boxes and just go through and find things that work with your unique style today.

[Alison Stewart]

Love that. Solange, thank you so much for calling in. Emily, before we go, I have to ask you a couple questions. The first one is some retailers like H and M and Gap have adopted recycling programs for their clothes. Does that work?

[Emily Stokel]

Yeah. So this is something we've seen a lot over the last couple of years is big brands adding resale programs or recycling programs, buyback programs. And the caution that I make to people when they're wondering is this real or is this greenwashing? Is a lot of times with these programs they're running parallel to the brands continuing to produce new product and the brand isn't intentionally using them to decrease the overproduction that they're making, actually using those programs to attract new customers and to grow. So a couple of red flags I tell people to look out for if they're looking at one of those programs and trying to suss out what's real and what's not. Does the program operate on some sort of trading credit or buyback credit? Like is the brand incentivizing you to actually buy more, shop more, acquire more? Because that should be a red flag that it's not actually about decreasing overproduction. Is the brand transparent about what they're doing with the clothes that you give back to them? What happens to the resale programs in their clothing? What happens to them if they're not sold? If they're sharing that information that that should be an indicator to you or not? And is the program something of a scale that would actually let the brand reduce their production of new or does it just kind of feel like this seems like a little bit of a marketing campaign just to get me in the store. So those are a couple of the red flags that I tell people to look out for when they see some of those big fast fashion brands offering reseller recycling program.

[Alison Stewart]

Emily Stokel is the host and the creator of the Pre Loved podcast. You should sign up for that podcast. It's really good. Emily, thanks for joining us. Really appreciate it.

[Emily Stokel]

Thanks so much for having me. I loved hearing everyone's stories about their great vintage finds.

[Alison Stewart]

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