11. Brand New

It must have started when I walked passed that shop. Strolling down the side walk, past the vintage stereo equipment shop with amps and turn tables in the window. Right next door to the salon that’s never open but always has a sign up that says “Walk-ins Welcome!”

Yes, I think the The Closet Shopper unleashed my love of garage sales and Goodwills in a whole new way. Before then I’d never bought used clothes. I loved digging for dishes, records, furniture and vintage toys. But shopping for used clothes wasn’t really a thing for me. Not like it is now.

Up-cycled, recycled, gently used, like new — all different words for an industry that’s been around for decades and suddenly became cool. Good-bye digging through odds and ends of peoples musty coats and torn jeans spread out on a sunshine filled yard alongside toasters and lamps. Helloooo small boutiques packed with hipsters, ankle boots and lots of over priced faux gold jewelry.

At The Shopper everything is organized, clean and lovely. Yes, it’s all used ––but it’s also merchandized to the max. Every corner has a hand bag or pair of shoes tucked away just waiting for me to find. A mix of designer labels and Forever 21 living in fashion harmony. Every thread, button and zipper waiting for their next lifetime to begin. Souls of shoes with more stories than I could ever write on Medium.

Yes, it must have been five years ago now when I walked into that store.

I’d like to say that my obsession with, and consequently my closet full of, gently used clothes was out of some need to be more green. Or even save more green.

Both of those are true to some degree. But I think it’s more about the experience of shopping consignment and recycled. Everything is unique in its own right. There aren’t 20 of anything in the same color or same sizes sitting under fluorescent lights. No annoyed retail goddess judging you for unfolding and refolding a stack of shirts in a desperate search for your size.

In recycled fashion, there’s usually just one.

And if you don’t decide that day to take it home it will be gone tomorrow. Maybe that’s what it’s about. The thrill of a good find. Walking into a mall just doesn’t do it for me. Now, I can hardly remember why I ever liked to shop “brand new”.