As a secondhand store with a big mission to keep clothing out of landfills, we sometimes get asked why we turn down certain brands. After all, shouldn’t keeping clothing out of the trash be a good thing, regardless of the label on the tag?
It’s a fair question, and one we think deserves a thoughtful answer.
So, why do we say no to fast fashion and lower-quality brands like SHEIN, Amazon Basics, Target, Old Navy, and others? If our goal is to give clothing a second life, why not accept everything?
We’re glad you asked.
Our mission isn’t simply to keep clothing out of landfills today. It’s to be part of a bigger shift toward buying less, choosing better, and making the most of what we already have.
We hope that by the end of this post, you’ll understand our reasoning a little better, and feel inspired to be more intentional about where your hard-earned dollars go.
1. The Basics of Economics: Supply and Demand
Let’s start with a little economics. Don’t worry, there won’t be a quiz!
The basic principle of supply and demand tells us that what we buy influences what companies produce. When the collective continually purchases inexpensive, trend-driven clothing, brands have a financial incentive to keep producing more of it. And more. And more. And more … (like hundreds of thousands more).
Fast fashion thrives on this cycle. New styles arrive at an astonishing pace, trends come and go before we’ve had time to decide whether we even like them, and clothing is increasingly treated as something disposable rather than something to be cared for.
But here’s the important part: our spending habits help shape the market. Yes, we have more control than we think.
Every purchase sends a signal. When we consistently choose cheap, short-lived clothing, we help sustain a system built around high turnover and constant consumption. When we choose durable pieces, shop secondhand, or support thoughtfully made clothing from independent and local businesses, we help create demand for a different approach.
Of course, no single purchase will change the fashion industry overnight. But collective choices add up. Companies respond to what sells, and we have more influence than we sometimes realize.
2. Why We Say No to Fast Fashion
Our decision comes down to two things: quality and the bigger picture.
Quality Matters — Especially When We’re Giving Clothes a Second Life
We believe clothing should be made to last. That means paying attention to fabric, construction, fit, and how well a garment holds up over time.
Many fast fashion items are designed to meet a low price point and capitalize on fleeting trends. While not every inexpensive garment is poorly made, lower-cost, trend-driven clothing can be more likely to have flimsy fabrics, rushed construction, or limited longevity.
And that presents a problem for a secondhand store like ours.
When clothing comes through our doors, we want it to have plenty of life left in it. We want you to find a piece you’ll reach for again and again — not something that looks great on the hanger but starts waving the white flag after a few wears.
Because honestly, if a garment can barely survive its first owner, it isn’t exactly a secondhand superstar.
We’re selective because we want the pieces you buy from us to offer genuine value. We want to help you build a wardrobe that lasts, rather than encourage a cycle of buying, wearing, discarding, and buying all over again.
We’re Not Being Snobby. We’re Being Intentional.
Let’s get one thing straight: this isn’t about judging anyone’s budget, personal style, or past purchases. These days, we are all on the struggle bus.
We know that affordability matters. Not everyone has the ability to invest in expensive clothing, and we would never suggest that buying a particular brand determines someone’s values.
Our decision is about what we choose to put on our racks and what our business stands for.
When we accept and resell a garment, we’re putting our name behind it. We want to feel confident that it meets our standards for quality, wearability, and longevity. If we wouldn’t feel good about recommending a piece to you, we have to ask ourselves why we should sell it in the first place.
And while buying fast fashion secondhand is generally preferable to buying it new from a resource-use perspective, resale alone doesn’t solve the problem of overproduction. We believe there’s value in looking at the entire cycle — not just where an item ends up, but how and why it was made in the first place.
Our goal is to make thoughtful choices easier, not to make anyone feel bad about the choices they’ve made before.
We’re all learning. We’re all doing our best. And we can all make more intentional decisions moving forward.
3. Cheap Clothing Comes With Costs Beyond the Price Tag
We’ve all seen the deal that seems too good to pass up. A new top for the price of a coffee? A cart full of trendy pieces for the cost of one well-made garment?
It’s tempting. We get it.
But the price on the tag doesn’t tell the whole story.
When clothing is produced at an enormous scale and sold at exceptionally low prices, it’s worth asking what makes that price possible. Are workers being paid fairly? Are materials and manufacturing practices designed with longevity in mind? What environmental costs come with producing, transporting, and eventually disposing of so much clothing?
The answers vary by brand and product, but the broader fast fashion model raises real concerns about labor conditions, resource consumption, and textile waste.
And then there’s the cost to your own wallet.
A bargain isn’t necessarily a bargain if you have to replace it after a handful of wears. That’s where cost per wear comes in: the price of an item divided by how many times you actually wear it.
A less expensive garment that falls apart quickly may cost more over time than a thoughtfully made piece you wear for years. The initial price matters, of course — but so does how much use you get out of it.
We’re not saying every quality garment has to come with a hefty price tag. Some of the best finds are secondhand treasures hiding in plain sight. We’re simply encouraging you to look beyond the sticker price and consider the value you’re really getting.
Sometimes the cheapest option is only cheap at checkout.
4. Where You Spend Your Money Matters
Here’s the part we really want you to take away from all of this: your money is a vote for the kind of marketplace you want to see.
When you shop, you’re not just purchasing a garment. You’re also supporting the businesses, production methods, and values behind it.
Choosing to shop secondhand keeps existing clothing in circulation and can reduce the need to purchase new items. Buying from local makers and independent brands can help support small businesses, skilled craftspeople, and more personal approaches to production. Investing in well-made clothing can also encourage a more thoughtful relationship with what you own.
None of these choices is perfect in every circumstance, and we know that access, affordability, and availability all play a role. But even small shifts in our habits can make a meaningful difference over time.
Instead of buying five pieces because they’re trendy and inexpensive, what if you bought one piece you genuinely love and will wear for years?
Instead of automatically reaching for the biggest retailer, what if you explored a local boutique, discovered an independent designer, or checked the secondhand shops in your community first?
Instead of asking, “How much can I get for this price?” what if you asked, “How much life will I get out of this?”
And perhaps most importantly, what if we all became a little more comfortable with buying less?
Imagine that.
5. Small Choices, Bigger Change
We know that refusing certain brands won’t single-handedly dismantle the fast fashion industry. We’re a small part of a much bigger conversation, and we don’t pretend otherwise.
But we believe that what we choose to sell matters. What we choose to buy matters. And the conversations we have about clothing, consumption, and waste matter, too.
Keeping garments out of landfills is a huge part of our mission. But we also want to encourage a culture where clothing is valued, quality is prioritized, and buying something new isn’t the automatic answer to every wardrobe dilemma.
We want you to love what you own, wear it often, repair it when you can, pass it along when you’re finished with it, and think carefully before bringing something new into your life.
And when you do need something, we hope you’ll consider secondhand first, explore local businesses, and look for quality that will stand the test of time.
Because the most sustainable garment is often the one that already exists — and the best purchase may be the one you don’t make at all.
So, Why Do We Say No?
We say no to fast fashion because we want to say yes to something better.
Yes to quality over quantity.
Yes to thoughtful consumption over constant consumption.
Yes to keeping good clothing in circulation.
Yes to supporting local businesses and independent makers.
Yes to getting more wear, more value, and more life out of the things we own.
And yes to a future where clothing isn’t treated as disposable simply because it’s inexpensive or no longer trending.
We may be a small part of the solution, but we believe that doing something is better than doing nothing — and that change begins with the choices we make every day.
So the next time you’re tempted by an unbelievably cheap, of-the-moment purchase, take a pause. Ask yourself whether you really need it, how long you’ll wear it, and what your money is helping to support.
Your closet, your wallet, and the planet might just thank you.
And remember: you don’t need more clothes. You need clothes worth wearing.
Thanks for being part of our mission to keep good clothing in circulation and make more thoughtful choices, one garment at a time.
Xoxo, Sunny + The Olivettes