Cashmere is a luxury fibre, warm in winter, sustainable, but you may have been put off in the past by its rocket-high prices. In this interview, Nearly New Cashmere offers reworked second-hand cashmere that is affordable for the student budget, with prices starting at around £45 per jumper rather than soaring into the triple figures. I strongly recommend you purchase one as the February chills seem to be here to stay!
Ali, the brand’s founder, shares the joys of second-hand cashmere and tips for second hand shopping.
Why is starting sustainable brands so important?
Ali: We believe in consuming less, and being considerate of our environment. It is shocking how much textile waste there is in the world, and especially in the UK. I think not many of us really understand it, but how can you if you haven’t seen it with your own eyes? How do you get across the message of sustainability without sounding preachy or judgy?
What makes cashmere unique as a material and better than, for example acrylic and other synthetic fibres?
Ali: From a warmth point of view, there’s nothing like it. It’s a luxury fibre, from the underbelly of goats which is combed out, making it expensive. It’s also expensive to produce and only made in specific areas of the world where the climate is just right.
In terms of sustainability, it is a natural fibre, so when it reaches the end of its life and is discarded, it can be recycled quite easily into either yarn, but if it ends up in landfill it will just decompose like any natural product. However, it is mostly out of people’s budget, particularly for students, so I would encourage them to buy one or two cashmere pieces rather than a load of acrylic pieces, for the reasons I’ve mentioned. Cashmere will last you years and years. We’ve all had a disappointing acrylic jumper. Cashmere, although it has a reputation for being hard to care for, is really quite easy once you know what you’re doing.
Do you think other brands should follow the example of Nearly New Cashmere?
Yes, I think it’s a good idea to keep second hand shopping simple. I did wonder about doing it with tweed, but I couldn’t get the supply, whereas cashmere is all over the world. If second hand brands stuck to one material, it would be cheaper for them and easier for the consumer.
I also like how with Nearly New Cashmere, the site is very accessible and easy to use- which might be a good solution for those who find the chaos of Vinted or a charity shop off-putting.
Ali: Yes, often when buying on Vinted you just end up with more stuff to resell. You can find good things, but for something special, like an outfit for a wedding, it’s not straightforward, especially for my generation. I don’t think we do second-hand shopping terribly well in our charity shops, it’s too much of a jumble and they resell things that are not great. Why would I want a Tesco t-shirt if I can buy it new for a few quid? They’re run by volunteers and are completely overwhelmed with donations, but I prefer the model in the states, where it’s well organised and prices on garments that don’t sell are gradually knocked down.
For those who might be a bit intimidated by second hand shopping, do you have any tips?
Build an understanding in your mind of where the good charity shops are where you live and just pop in regularly with no expectations. You could go in three or four times and find nothing but then another day find a jewel. I think also following people on Instagram who are advocates of second-hand is useful, like @charityshopgirl. It’s important to get inspired by following people who are shopping second hand and styling it. Just try things and avoid all the tat!
