Growing up in a Latino household was all about recycling. The plastic bags from the grocery stores? Those become trash bags and get recycled. The plastic containers from yogurts? Those are our versions of Tupperware. Clothes from older siblings? That becomes your new closet.
People have actually taken the latter to a new level.
Social media influencers are calling for a more sustainable and conscious way of clothing — and overall consumerism.
Whether through thrift shopping or repurposing thrift goods, here are three Latino influencers teaching us how to give a second life to old clothes.
Happy thrifting!
Sally @callmeflowerchild
This Mexican-Salvadoran nature enthusiast self-describes herself as “a conscious and mindful closet advocate,” and it’s apparent in her social media videos. She shares thrift stores to visit (including this plus-size shop!) and often talks about the importance of having a “conscious closet.” Scrolling through her feed, you can immediately recognize that there are so many ways to repurpose your clothes and give a second life to thrift finds.
Furthermore, her social media presence is dedicated to uplifting biodegradable resources and overall organizations that align with her morals of living a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle. What an inspiration, right?
Xitlaly Ocampo @RestitchedByXO
This Mexican curator is all about “upcycles,” alterations, and custom designs. She’s big on recycling thrifted materials and giving them a repurpose. Ocampo uses her social media to express awareness of sustainable living beyond thrifting — she’s also talked about easy and cheap ways to live more eco-friendly. “I wanted people to look at sustainability as something that not only rich or elite people have access to,” she said in a previous interview. “In reality, the people that are the most sustainable are the ones that have so little because they reuse and get so much use out of their things.”
Jackie @jacquitabanana
This Salvadoran fashionista is an eco-friendly advocate. She uses her social media to talk about the ugly truth about fashion. She’s recently talked about unlearning hyper-consumerism and often talks about the importance of sustainable thrift shopping. “As a first-gen professional, segundiando (thrifting) was not only the most sustainable and affordable option for quality chic work wear, but it was also a way of life,” she wrote in a post. “Many of us have underscored how our communities have been thrifting way before it got “trendy,” but I also want to underscore how truly grateful I am to have grown up in a family that always emphasized “hay comida en La casa” o “en la segunda lo compramos.”
Read more: Five Fashion Trends That Experts Predict for the Coming Months