Great fashion finds in recycled clothing

I dropped by the East-end-Toronto clothing boutique Common Sort on the weekend; a friend of mine installed computer-controlled heads on the mannequins in the window, so my partner and I had to check out just how well the speechless-yet-fashionable models would follow our movements. Not bad!

The shop’s owner, Nicole (that’s her in the snapshot), is a real talent at selecting funky clothing and footwear that you could call second hand, recycled, reused or “previously enjoyed.” Or, I suppose, sustainable. I found a knee-length hemp wrap skirt made in Romania (I thought it was linen at first, so I had a pleasant surprise!) and a neat knitted shrug with frilly green layers, perfect for wearing over a dress.

It was great to shop for clothing more or less guilt free – I found a few things to add to my wardrobe without requiring that something new be made for me, I was supporting a small business owner, and the clothes were very affordable too. What’s not to like about that?

Have you bought recycled fashion or other reused goods?