The Magical Art of Buying Used
Or how my Birkenstocks spark joy
A heat dome is covering New York state. Time for root beer floats, swim holes . . . and running 13.1 miles?
This Sunday, my husband Bryan and I are running our first half-marathon in nine years. Due to unusually hot weather, race organizer are encouraging runners to carry their own water bottles and hydrate between aid stations. We’ll be fine, of course. A race is an optional activity and we can walk, quit, or run very slowly as we douse our heads with water—stay tuned for updates—but a lot of folks can’t opt out of outdoor activities during heat waves.
MRP has an important piece about life in South Asia when it’s 121-125 °F, and in it, I learned that 75% of the pupulation in India has to work in the heat. Across the globe, between May 2023 and May 2024, 4 out of 5 people lived through at least one month of unusually hot weather. And according to the World Meteorological Organization, out of all the extreme weather events, heat kills the most people.
The heat dome is yet another reminder that systems need to change if we’re to avoid sliding into climate disaster. The reality is that systems change slowly (until they don’t). Individual action is immediate. That’s why I get excited about changing toilet paper brands or the magical joy of Birkenstocks. Used Birkenstocks, that is. The shopping choices we make—big and small—collectively impact the planet.
The best choice is Not Buying Something. It’s affordable, always fits your closet, looks good on everyone, and is fantastic for the environment. JB MacKinnon, author of The Day the World Stops Shopping, said in a Guardian interview: “When people buy less stuff, you get immediate drops in emissions, resource consumption and pollution, unlike anything we’ve achieved with green technology.”
But what about when you need something or really want it? Consider buying used. When we moved from California to New York, I didn’t have appropriate winter gear. Enter local thrift stores, a local Buy Nothing group, local Facebook marketplace, and (when all else failed) Ebay. My snowboots: used. My dress boots: used. My wool sweaters: used. Our bookshelves: used. Desk: used. Nightstand: used. Buying used allowed me to get better quality sweaters and still save money.
This summer, I really wanted Birkenstock sandals. I know, I know, I didn’t need them. Also, I thought I’d reached the limits of what I was willing to buy used. I mean, I would be wearing these barefooted. For a month, I tried Not Buying Birkenstocks, but I kept thinking about how a pair could be my shoes, the pair I wore all summer for years. Years! I checked out the cost of new Birkenstocks (yikes!) and then checked out what Ebay had. Hmmm. . . . not bad. And friends, I bought a used pair and every time I put them on, I feel like a college student, and they are so comfortable.
Personal Action: Make a habit of buying things used. You’ll save money and can buy better quality items. Also, and this is just as important, make a habit of giving your old things a second life. Placing items in a recycling bin is good, but it doesn’t always reach people. If you can give items directly to someone, you’ll increase the chance that they’re actually being reused. When my kid outgrows things, I pass them on and it gives me such pleasure to see my friends’ kids wearing a t-shirt or dress we particularly loved on our kid. I am also a HUGE fan of my local BuyNothing page, as I wrote about for Literary Mama.
Why it matters: Each year, we throw away 2.12 billion tons of things. Imagine if we could close that loop and ensure that most things got used at least twice. Clothing, particularly, has a heavy environmental footprint. Fast fashion is a disaster for the environment, terrible for water usage, and dangerous to the workers being exploited in factories. The exploitation of garment workers will be its own long newsletter in the future. In the meantime, the novel Beneath the Seams by Peyton H. Roberts takes on the fashion industry, as does the nonfiction book Unraveled: The Life and Death of a Garment by Maxine Bedat. Both excellent.
The website Choose to Reuse notes: “Buying secondhand goods means that the energy and natural resources that went into creating those goods have already been used. So, you’re not creating a demand for new items that require additional energy or deplete even more natural resources.”
Systems Change: Because Fast Fashion is horrible for the environment and has been a human right’s disaster, we need to change the systems. The Fashion Act, which would require businesses to protect workers and the environment, is being considered in New York state. You can sign your support here. You can also send a letter to a department store asking them to carry sustainable brands. Here’s a terrific template.
France is showing what systems change legislation can look like. A bill passed through the lower legislative branch and needs to now pass the senate. The bill would make brands accountable for the lifespan of a garment, ban advertising of fast fashion, and inform customers of the environmental footprint of the garment.
Why It Matters: The manufacture of fast fashion is water intensive, sends microplastics into the environment, creates waste, and burns fossil fuels. We can and should make good personal choices, but changing the systems will be essential for a healthy planet.
What is your favorite item purchased used? What’s your favorite (used) item someone has given you? What is the best thing you’ve given away? Any tips for running in the heat?
Yeah, definitely put as much water on you as in you, especially in the latter miles. Do a quick google of heat exhaustion symptoms so you’re familiar. Have a small cooler of washcloths floating in ice water for the end—heaven on earth. Adjust expectations. And then have fun!
Since we moved three years ago I've tried to buy most my clothes used--and I won't look back. I have struggled with shoes though because sizing can be so much tricker. Good luck with the run!