Unintentionally taking over the reins from the fashion department of eBay, Depop founded by Simon Beckerman has been on the rise since 2011. It has been the hotspot for the new hip and trendy generation looking to experiment without breaking the bank. Unlike eBay, it's interface and design imitate popular social media applications such as Instagram. This allows its user base to freely socialise with one another, discover new styles and sell their own items.
Why is Depop so Great?
The basis of Depop involves creating a community that encourages individuality and creativity. Since watching the documentary 'The True Cost', I have been interested in sustainable and ethical fashion and wanted to discover new ways to engage with shopping in a way that doesn't harm people or the planet. I enjoy putting together exciting outfits that express how I feel and who I am hence my interest in fashion. However, shopping at high street stores and supporting sweatshop labour was something I no longer felt I could do while being conscious of the conditions behind the scenes. Simultaneously, I felt lost as to where I could buy clothing that I liked.
Advice often consisted of thrift shopping and going to vintage stores but alongside these locations for shopping also came with various ethical issues. I am privileged enough to buy clothes without having to look at the cost yet here I am buying clothes from charity shops for myself which could otherwise be worn by those who need them more than I do and cannot afford otherwise. Then there are vintage stores which exploit the trendiness of pieces leading to ridiculously high prices. It felt redundant knowing that I could get similar items for much cheaper elsewhere if I just spent more time looking for these pieces of clothing.
Is Depop sustainable? Depop is what I would consider being the best of both worlds. It allows us to reuse clothes and reduce our contribution to the landfill waste that both donated and thrown out clothing create. Due to the accessibility of the Depop app, it means that we can actively incorporate sustainability into our everyday lives. Alongside buying second-hand clothing, we are also given the option to sell our items. This is great for those who would like to make some extra money on the side while simultaneously knowing that they have just prolonged the lifespan of those items of clothing!
Of course, it can't be denied that Depop has its limitations and negative aspects that need to be confronted. These issues will be explored in a future post. If anyone has either positive or negative comments to share in regards to Depop, it would be lovely to hear from you!
Love and solidarity,
A very special anonymous contributor x
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