Op shops across the country are seeing a significant rise in sales — and it's not just a good bargain driving people to the trend.
Auckland City Mission fundraising and reputation manager Deb Ward said Christmas "is always a busy time" at the mission's op shops as Kiwis hunt for presents or gifts for themselves.
Auckland op shop Tatty's has also seen an "absolute increase in the number of stuff that people drop off", store manager Erin Mulholland said.
"The number we're selling — it's quite amazing to me to see that."
While the cost of living crisis is driving more thrifty customers to pre-loved threads, it's not just about saving money.
Around 180,000 tonnes of clothing and textile waste is disposed of in New Zealand each year. Clothes being donated to charity shops mean they will be saved from the landfill, while for charity shops, the money goes back to the community.
"Essentially, they're helping support people in greatest need across our city. It's a really important way that people can contribute to that need," Ward said.
"What we ask is that they are good quality. It's really important that people aren't just dropping off things that they don't want anymore that should really be in the rubbish dump."
Online marketplace Designer Wardrobe, which specialises in more upmarket pieces, has watched buying and selling grow by more than five times since 2020.
"People can discover items that have been sold out for years or find that unique vintage piece from the '80s," chief executive Aidan Bartlett said.
"Buying something that's what we call pre-loved is a great way to be part of that sustainability aspect."
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