A common challenge with secondhand shopping is finding affordable yet high-quality pre-loved clothing online.
I received a question about this from a Slow Fashion Saturday newsletter subscriber but it’s something I know many readers struggle with! Not everyone has access to great local secondhand options or has the time to sift through thrift stores, which makes online shopping a solid alternative.
While there’s no shortage of secondhand clothing, navigating sizing and assessing quality online can be tricky. Here are my top tips to help!
Note that the following a few includes affiliate and referral links to some of my favorite secondhand sites.
How to Decipher Quality
Let me just start off addressing that determining “quality” can be confusing. So if you’ve ever felt unsure whether something is high-quality, you’re not alone!
One issue is that many brands use the term “quality” without much meaning behind it. It might even be the next greenwashed buzzword in sustainable fashion!
Another common confusion is the difference between durability and quality.
For example, Primark recently released a “Durability Framework” and study claiming that cheap fashion can outlast more premium-priced fashion.
While I agree that price doesn’t always equate to longevity, the report and subsequent media coverage felt oversimplified to me.
“Durability” is only telling us how long a product can withstand wear and tear. Sure that’s one element of long-lasting pieces, but durability is just one element of quality!
In the context of fashion, quality can also include the fit, design, hand-feel, comfort, and performance. Quality also tells us how long and how often we want to wear that garment.
Even if the sweater is still in one piece, does it feel good or does it feel itchy? Do those jeans fit like a glove or do they gap at the waist? Do those synthetic blouses breathe or make you uncomfortably sweaty?
A holistic view of high-quality considers things like:
- Fabric and Function: Does the material suit the garment type? Are synthetic fibers used with a real intention or just to cut costs?
- Construction: Look for even stitching, straight seams, finished edges, and reinforced high-stress areas. Avoid loose threads or pilling on new or barely worn garments.
- Fit & Design: Does it fit well, feel comfortable, and perform appropriately (i.e. keep you warm if it’s a sweater, or cool if it’s a summer dress)? Did the brand do fit testing
- Components: Are the zippers, buttons, and other components securely fastened or already looking loose?
For more on spotting quality clothing, check out this Conscious Style Podcast interview with design educator Zoë Hong!
Now let’s talk about how to assess these qualities when shopping online.
How to Find Quality Clothes Secondhand Online
Here are some of the ways to apply the above tips to online secondhand shopping.
Check the fabric content.
Personally, I like to look for natural fibers only, unless it’s too limiting in a certain category, like activewear and outerwear.
If you also want to look for natural fibers, online resale site thredUP has a “Material” filter where you can select “Natural Materials” to avoid synthetics completely in the search results. That filter is a game-changer for me! I used to have to check the material content on every individual item when thrifting.
Want to try it out yourself?
Get 45% off + free shipping on your first order with my thredUP referral link! (Transparency note: if you make your first purchase through my thredUP links, I’ll receive thredUP credit.)
Check the brand.
If you’re unfamiliar with the quality of that brand, search online: “Is [BRAND] high quality?” You’ll likely find a range of forum posts and niche reviewers.
Sometimes, though, brands will be hit or miss with their quality depending on the product. If the product (or something similar) is still being sold by the brand, you can check product reviews on that brand’s website or on a retailer that sells that brand. This isn’t an end-all-be-all, but can be helpful.
And as you start to experiment with different brands while secondhand shopping you might start to develop go-to’s for the future.
For example, my friend gave me a pair of her pre-loved jeans and while I wouldn’t normally shop from that brand new since it doesn’t meet my sustainability criteria, I really like wearing that pair of denim! They’re comfortable and they’ve held up well. So now I’m looking for jeans from that brand secondhand online.
Check the condition notes.
If you don’t want to invest the time or money for repair, check the Condition filters on the resale sites and only mark “excellent” or “new with tags” (or equivalent).
What if you can’t find this information?
The fabric, brand, and condition are usually listed on on brand-owned or third-party resale platforms like Vestiaire Collective, thredUP, or The RealReal but that information is not always available on peer-to-peer marketplaces like Poshmark or Vinted.
However, if you’re buying through an independent reseller, don’t hesitate to ask them questions on size, condition, and fabric! They should be able to offer that information. And if not, then it might be worth questioning if it’s a worthwhile purchase.
How to Find the Right Size with Secondhand Pieces
Sizing can be tricky when shopping secondhand. Some platforms, like Poshmark, don’t allow for returns for fit issues, and the return fees on other secondhand platforms can add up quickly.
So it pays off to invest some time to take your measurements and check the measurements on the product page.
The most important measurements to take are:
- Bust
- Waist
- Hips
- Inseam (inner thigh to ankle)
- Length (shoulder to hip or wherever you’d like your top to hit)
Pro Tip: If you’re looking for a specific type of garment, you may also want to check the measurements of a similar garment already in your closet that fits well. You can use those measurements to compare to the measurements of the secondhand garment.
You might be asking: Why should I take my measurements if I know my size?
While looking at size can be a good place to start, each brand’s sizing can run a bit differently. It’s useful to have your measurements handy so you can check their size chart and see where your measurements fall into the mix.
Also, sometimes pre-worn garments have been washed and put through the machine dryer, so there could be some minor shrinkage. That’s why I like to see measurements taken of the secondhand piece and not just generic sizing information from the brand.
If you received the wrong size or the measurements were different in-person than what was posted online, don’t worry. Some platforms, like thredUP, will refund you fully if the sizing issue was due to a mistake on their product listing. Many thredUP customers have confirmed this in forums.
What to Do When It Doesn’t Work Out
Despite our best intentions, mistakes and oversights happen! Here’s how to handle items that don’t fit, listed from lowest lift to most effort:
- Make minor adjustments to see if it can work (roll up sleeves, cuff pants inside with double sided tape, belt oversized items etc.)
- Swap it, sell it, or give it to a friend
- Donate it somewhere that has full transparency into how they manage used garments
- Take it to a tailor (if you have many pieces to get altered, some alteration shops do quantity discounts)
- Bring it to a consignment shop to resell or consign it back to the place you bought the piece from
- Sell it online on a peer-to-peer marketplace (or local peer-to-peer marketplace)
- Take the alterations into your own hands if you have the skills (or are able & excited to learn)
- For the creative and talented sewers in our midst, upcycling could be a fun option as well
I hope these tips can be helpful as you search for secondhand gems online!
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Just like fashion has been overrun by fast fashion, home goods and furniture have similarly seen a rapid decline in quality. Rugs are no exception.
And similar to fashion, these cheap goods come at a high cost — namely, to the planet and to people. In fact carpet and rug production is rampant with exploitation.
On the other hand, fair trade rugs present the best of what a rug can bring to your home: artistry, craftsmanship, and heritage.
The brands featured in this guide are partnering with (and fairly paying!) skilled artisans who are using generations-old — and sometimes even centuries-old — techniques. These artisans are sustaining long lines of crafts, preserving their cultural diversity, and celebrating the richness of their time-honored crafts.
There’s simply no replacement for a timeless, quality artisan-made rug — they’re like pieces of art you can lay out on your floor or hang on your walls.
So, enjoy browsing through this guide to sustainable rug brands listed out below and best of luck on your search for the right fair trade rug!
Where to Find Ethical and Fair Trade Rugs
Note that this guide includes affiliates and partners. As always, brands must meet high standards for ethics and sustainability to be featured and all opinions are my own.
1. Obakki
Best for: warm-hued handwoven wool rugs
Categories: Area Rugs, Runners, Accent Rugs
Obakki partners with artisan weavers primarily in Oaxaca, Mexico — including individual makers like José — who hand-dyes and weaves rugs on a traditional pedal loom using locally sourced sheep’s wool and natural dyes derived from native plants. The brand also works with Rrres Design Studio, a Latin American studio dedicated to preserving traditional Oaxacan weaving techniques, and sources handwoven textiles from artisan communities beyond Mexico as well, including Morocco.
Each rug is made from 100% wool with no synthetic dyes or backing. Most pieces are made-to-order with a 4-8 week production window, shipped directly from the artisan partners.
Price Range: $460 – $4,159
Conscious Qualities: Natural Fibers, Natural Dyes, Craft Preservation
2. Kiliim
Best for: modern wool kilim rugs
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs
If you’re well-versed in rug terminology, you may recognize that this brand’s name looks similar to the word kilim.
Kiliim’s rug are made using authentic kilim rug craftsmanship by artisans in Egypt coming from generations of kilim artisans. To ensure ethical production and to support the preservation of this heritage craft, Kiliim pays living wages to all artisans.
Price Range: $95 – $4,812
Conscious Qualities: Ethical Production, Heritage Craft Preservation, Natural Fibers
3. Urban Natural
Best for: browsing fair trade rugs in lots of styles and sizes
Categories: Outdoor, Area Rugs, and Accent Rugs
This natural home and lifestyle retailer has a beautifully curated selection of sustainably-made rugs crafted with materials like jute, sisal, wool, and cotton.
Several brands on Urban Natural are also ethically hand-loomed or hand-knotted, such as Loloi — a GoodWeave partner — and Jaipur Living — a brand that partners with thousands of local artisans to sustain heritage crafts.
Price Range: $259 – $9,755
Conscious Qualities: Eco-Conscious Materials
4. LOOMY
Best for: pet-friendly and performance rugs
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs, Runners, Outdoor Rugs
Founded by a weaver, LOOMY is dedicated to crafting beautiful artisan-made rugs that will last for decades to come.
LOOMY partners with highly-skilled artisan weavers who craft quality rugs made from eco-minded materials like banana silk, jute, and recycled cotton, plus performance options made from 100% recycled polyester built to withstand whatever life brings you.
Price Range: $298 – $8,298
Conscious Qualities: Natural Fibers, Craft Preservation, Vintage Options
5. West Elm
Best for: fair trade rugs in on-trend mainstream styles
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs
West Elm is bringing ethical rugs to a broader market with their collection of Fair Trade Certified
wool and cotton rugs. While I recommend browsing the smaller shops listed above first, West Elm is supporting the movement to responsibly-made, fair trade rugs.
Price Range: $$$
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade production, Majority Natural Materials
6. Jubi
Best for: Modern rugs in vibrant prints
Categories: Accent Rugs, Circle Rugs, Runners
Jubi is a Brooklyn studio founded by textile designer Cassie Dagostino. Every rug is handmade from New Zealand wool by fourth-generation weaving families in Bhadohi, India using traditional techniques. Each rug is made-to-order, meaning no excess stock. Since everything is made to order, expect between 3 and 7 weeks for your rug, depending on the technique used.
Conscious Qualities: Pays Above Market Rates, 100% Wool, Made-to-Order
Price Range: $228 – $668
Shipping: Free worldwide shipping
7. Rejuvenation
Best for: Classic rug styles made in Fair Trade factories
Categories: Accent Rugs, Runners, Area Rugs
Home retailer Rejuvenation has a selection of rugs made in Fair Trade Certified factories. Their collection includes undyed hand-loomed rugs to geometric flatwoven wool rugs. And while I’d typically avoid synthetics, it tends to be unavoidable for outdoor rugs — so Rejuvenation’s Fair Trade 100% recycled poly rug is a good option.
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade Certified, Mostly Natural Materials
Price Range: $79 – $1,649
Shipping: Contiguous U.S. shipping for 10% of product price (add $20 for HI, AK, and US. territorries)
Liked this guide to ethical rugs? You might also enjoy:
Ethical Home Decor Brands to Curate a Beautiful, Conscious Space
Eco-Friendly Furniture to Furnish Your Home Sustainably
Fair Trade and Eco-Friendly Blankets to Cozy Up With
The post 5 Best Ethical Fair Trade Rugs to Elevate Your Space appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
As a longtime book lover, I may be biased, but I think a full bookshelf is one of the most beautiful additions to a space. There’s nothing better than seeing a showcase of your favorite reads alongside a TBR list.
A bookcase, though, can of course be used for all sorts of purposes from placing your favorite photos of family and friends to showcasing treasured vintage finds.
Whatever the case, this guide will help you find the right sustainable bookshelf for your living room, office, or wherever you like to cozy up with a good read!
So what make a bookcase more sustainable? What makes a bookshelf non-toxic?
First of all: sustainable and non-toxic are two overlapping — but distinct — criteria. And both of those terms can come with a lot of opinions and varying definitions.
When it comes to sustainable bookcases, I look for:
- Responsibly Sourced Materials: most bookshelves are made primarily with wood. While natural, unsustainable wood sourcing can be a cause of deforestation, so we want to see that the wood was from responsibly managed forests or made from reclaimed or repurposed wood. Some bookshelves may feature metal, in which case recycled materials here are important.
- High Quality Construction: sustainability includes longevity — how long will you be able to use that furniture piece before it goes to the landfill and gets replaced? Look for transparency around craftsmanship and woodworking processes. Another sign of quality is the length of warranty a company has for its products.
- Ethically Made: this one is straightforward in theory — were the people making it paid fairly and working in safe conditions? — but is unfortunately not always easy to find information. In this category, I look for transparency in practices, what relationship the brand has with the manufacturer (some produce in-house which is the best case scenario for transparency!), where it was made, and how well the makers were paid.
Ideally a sustainable bookshelf would also be non-toxic — as toxic chemical fumes aren’t exactly sustainable! But this isn’t always the case. For example, if a company prioritizes upcycled materials, they don’t necessarily have control over what inputs were part of the original materials. And sometimes a company focuses more on ethical artisan partnerships and sustainable wood sourcing, more than, say, using non-toxic finishes.
But when it comes to non-toxic bookshelves, this is what I look for. (Note that non-toxic doesn’t necessarily mean safe for all chemical sensitivities. Nor does it mean zero potentially irritating chemicals.)
- Solid Wood (where possible): MDF or pressed wood contains glue to stick the various wood pieces together, which can contain added formaldehyde. I prefer solid wood, or if it is engineered wood, I’d make sure the company is transparent around the type of glue used and/or they at least have a product certification like GREENGUARD. (More on that in a second.)
- Low or Zero VOC Finishes: most wood furniture is completed with some sort of finish to provide a protection against scratches or moisture. Many of these finishes are synthetic, and some can contain high levels of toxic chemicals. Look for a natural finish like linseed oil or beeswax or a low VOC synthetic finish.
Relevant Certifications
You’ll see a few certifications referenced throughout this guide. Here’s what each one covers:
- FSC Certified = the wood sourcing was responsibly managed; this is not a finish, foam, or textile guarantee.
- GREENGUARD / GREENGUARD Gold Certified = the finished product was tested for low chemical emissions, including VOCs, with Gold representing the stricter tier.
- Fair Trade Certified
= verifies that a factory meets standards for fair wages, safe working conditions, and ethical labor practices. - Cradle to Cradle Certified (Gold) = evaluates a product or material across material health, circularity, clean air/climate, water/soil stewardship, and social fairness.
Where to Find Sustainable Bookcases and Shelving
I’m always a secondhand first proponent, and that goes for furniture, too. While your local thrift store might not have used bookshelves, check for dedicated furniture resale shops near you or estate sales. (I use EstateSales.net to find ones near me.) You can also find gently used pieces on online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp or AptDeco.
If you can’t find something you love secondhand, and you don’t want to DIY your own bookshelf, then the next best choice is to shop from one of the sustainable furniture companies below. (If you’re simply looking for a bookstand, I’d suggest browsing Etsy for a collection of solid wood, bamboo, and reclaimed wood book stands and cookbook stands!)
Note that this guide includes affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you purchase through these links which helps us continue to run this website and create resources like these. As always all brands meet strict sustainability criteria and are brands we love — and that we think you’ll love too!
1. Medley
Best for: low VOC wood bookcases
Medley’s bookshelves are elegant and elevated, perfect for a living room. Each piece is made with 100% solid FSC-certified hardwood for the tops and sides, though low-VOC CARB 2 compliant plywood is used for the shelves.
Every eco-friendly bookcase is handcrafted in the US (California or North Carolina) and completed with a low-VOC wood finish.
Price: $2,395 – $2,995
Materials: White Maple, American Walnut Wood
Conscious Qualities: Made-to-Order, US-Made, FSC-Certified Wood, Natural Finish
2. Thuma
Best for: non-toxic modular bookshelf
Thuma’s eco-friendly bookshelf is made from upcycled wood sourced from rubberwood trees no longer being used to source rubber. The brand’s bookshelf is also GREENGUARD Gold certified.
What makes Thuma’s bookshelf stand out to me, though, is its modularity — their Pillar Bookshelf can be set in 10 different configurations. And if you start with just a few shelves but later decide you want a larger bookshelf, you can simply buy an additional shelf or two to add on to it!
Price Range: $550 – $3,300
Materials: Upcylced Rubber Wood
Conscious Qualities: GREENGUARD Gold Certified, Repurposed Materials, Adaptable
3. West Elm GREENGUARD Certified
Best for: low-tox bookcases and bookracks for kids
This furniture retailer has plenty of adorable, but functional, bookshelves for a playroom or kids’ bedroom. From cubby bookcases to mid-century bookracks, you’ll find plenty of options that are not only GREENGUARD certified, but made in Fair Trade Certifiedfactories, and/or with FSC-certified wood. Note that the company’s bookshelves are made with engineered wood, though.
West Elm also has GREENGUARD certified bookcases large enough for the adults too!
Price: $399 – $2,897
Materials: Solid Wood, Reclaimed Wood
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade, FSC Certified, and GREENGUARD Certified Options
4. Urban Natural
Best for: a variety of eco-friendly bookshelves
This natural home retailer has sustainable bookcases in all shapes and sizes. From traditional bookcases to open-back asymmetrical shelving units, Urban Natural has options for any interior aesthetic. Each brand they carry values quality craftsmanship, responsible production, and sustainable sourcing.
Price: $1,099 – $5549
Materials: Solid Teak, Maple, Cherry, Walnut, Birch (varies by