Educators not Influencers – A Slow Fashion Interview with @Thriftyphoebs
Looking through Phoebe Hussey’s instagram grid, also known as @thriftyphoebs, you can see a girl who has fun with her fashion. It’s bright, fun and a great way of showing you how amazing your wardrobe can be when you slow it down a bit.
Phoebe’s journey from discovering the impact of the fashion industry, to learning that a sustainable brand is not the solution when you shop too much, feels super relatable. Especially as moving from fast to slow fashion is about a lot more than just your clothes.
I caught up with Phoebe to discuss her journey, the things she learnt along the way and the best place to start when you’re overwhelmed by scrolling through Depop and hashtags.
How do you define sustainable dressing?
Phoebe: I would define sustainable dressing as wearing things you already own.
I think we should be reusing materials which are already in circulation rather than producing new pieces. We can do this by circulating clothes; taking clothes from friends and family, and charity shopping.
““I thought I’ll start this page and have a bit of accountability for what I’m doing” ”
I much prefer “reusing and rewearing” rather than buying from a sustainable seller.
Why did you transform your own fashion from sustainable brands to rewearing and reusing?
Phoebe: I'd say the main journey for me was at university in my final year. I focused on fast fashion and I was investigating what Generation Z knew about the environmental effects of fast fashion.
I definitely knew that there were issues but I hadn’t realised how bad it was. I started researching the dyeing, manufacturing and waste disposal processes. The fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries on the planet.
I thought I'll start my Instagram account to have a bit of accountability for what I'm doing. I knew that some friends have tried in the past, I just thought I need to tell someone I'm going to try to shop more sustainably and then I'll stick to it.
I started looking into sustainable brands and more expensive brands, thinking that the clothes will last longer. I used an app Good for You which rates what certain brands are doing for people, the planet and for animals.
It definitely opened my eyes that brands may not necessarily be as sustainable as they claim to be.
I definitely focus more on materials now rather than price point. Following people online who are doing the same thing as me or sharing resources definitely educated me.
Do you think the online sustainable fashion community has changed your fashion?
Phoebe: Definitely! I think I'm definitely more experimental. I don't follow the trends, I just find things I like and I wear them.
Sustainable and slow fashion influencers on Instagram all have their own personalities and styles. They're very varied in their outfits and they clearly wear what they want to wear.
They’re going into a charity shop or choosing things from their wardrobes that potentially no one else has, not just the same new-in section of a high street shop.
Do you ever feel any pressure having a slow fashion influencer account?
Phoebe: I definitely feel like there's accountability with my instagram. You are a bit more conscious about what you post. I did a bit of a haul of charity shop purchases and then thought "does that encourage overconsumption?".
I just try to post purely thrifted second hand items that people can't buy. I don't like to tag things but I put in the description what I'm wearing.
I don't want to upset anyone but equally I'm learning just the same as everyone else. I'm not going to do everything right. It’s a fun account for me, it's not a business account.
Now you’ve moved to second hand/ thrifted pieces, where is your favourite place to shop?
Phoebe: Vinted is my favourite online store at the moment. I think it's so good. They sell so many gems and such bargains. I moved away from Depop quite a while ago. I feel that now everything on Depop has an extortionate price and It's so hard to filter through all the content.
Also I get a lot of bags of clothes from friends and family. I’m really lucky in that sense. I get lots of things from them. I don't use sustainable brands really. just charity shops, eBay and Vinted. I haven't been in this position where I've wanted something new, I really just don't need anything.
Do you think that your Instagram account has opened the eyes of your family and friends to the environmental impact of Fashion?
“‘I know it’s something that I’ll have forever.””
Phoebe: I've had quite a few people say that it's definitely made them think about renting clothes and how to find second hand items online.
On second hand sites there's a lot to trawl through but I think it is much more rewarding, especially when it comes and it's perfect and it's a bargain. There's no pang of guilt.
What are your favourite pieces that you found?
Phoebe: Probably my Burberry trench coat which I got for £80. Then I also got a Fendi bag. I know it's something that I'll have forever.
I have some odd pieces which aren’t worth a lot of money but I love them and I know no one else will have them. I'm in a much happier place in terms of how I dress and I definitely feel more confident.
Where would advise someone to start who’s wanting to slow their fashion down a little?
Phoebe: The first thing I would say is Instagram if you're a heavy social media user. Either change your Instagram or make an Instagram account to document your journey. Also, unfollow people who influence you to buy unsustainably
Are there any particular hashtags to start following slow fashion?
My friend, Lucy, hashtags #prelovedincolour. I think that's a really nice hashtag that gives you a bit of outfit inspiration. There's also #slowfashion, #preloved, #recyclerewearreuse.
The first slow fashion influencer that I followed was Theniftythrifter. Going through the people that she followed was the first thing I did. I trusted her opinion and I trust the people that she follows.
Is there anything else you would recommend?
Phoebe: I did a bit of a wardrobe detox and donated a lot of pieces from my wardrobe.
I turned around all my hangers and when I wore something, I put the clothes back on the hanger and hung them in the wardrobe the other way around. Over a six month period whatever I hadn’t worn went from my wardrobe.
I didn't know how much I had until I saw it all hung up. It also helps me get ready in the morning because everything is in front of me.
What are the trends in slow fashion and what do you think will happen in the future?
Phoebe: There's a lot of independent rental companies but now I'm seeing a lot of brands offering resales and rentals, like H&M.
Selfridges are reselling vintage bags. It would be great to see more of that from the big brands.
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Written By Lauren Waugh
