It’s 2023, everyone seems to be living for Instagram. We are bombarded daily by content creators and celebrities always dressed in something new.

But is it really new? Did you know that most celebrities don’t own the clothes they display in their social media posts? They are actually sample pieces borrowed, loaned, or sourced from designers and labels that were seen on the runway or in brand campaigns.

Many celebrities, from Sonam Kapoor Ahuja to Zendaya, proudly sport archival (read second-hand) pieces that were previously worn to star-studded events, indirectly indicating that it’s perfectly okay to borrow and wear favorites. Plus, fashion queens like Victoria Beckham and Kate Moss have made it cool to repeat their red carpet looks.

Beyond celebrity circles, more people in India and abroad are buying used clothing and accessories, vintage or not, especially with more conversation around conscious consumption. However, while people abroad openly advertise their love of second-hand items, most at home keep everything under wraps.

We need to be more expressive about the use of second-hand clothes. It’s not just great to buy used clothes. It also helps save the planet, simply because you’re repeating clothes that are already in the system.

The world generates more than 90 million tons of textile waste each year. According to Global Fashion Agenda, a non-profit organization, by 2030 we will throw away more than 130 million tons of textiles a year. It is high time that we review our fashion consumption patterns.

Second-hand fashion is one of the ways in which we can combat the problem of textile waste. And the good news is that the second-hand market is growing around the world, giving consumers access to great and unique pieces without breaking the bank and helping them reduce their carbon footprint.

Globally, the secondhand clothing market is expected to grow 127% by 2026, according to a recent report from thredUP, an online thrift and consignment store. Clearly, many people invest in second-hand items. It is time for us to become more open about the love story.

If more people will talk about owning used parts, more shoppers will explore, if not buy, used products.

Shehlina Soomro is the founder of Saritoria.