Secondhand Cashmere – Would You Buy It? Top Tips For Nearly New Cashmere!

I do! This one is from eBay.Autumn is the perfect time for knits and sunglasses both at the same time.  My ultimate knitted fabric is cashmere. Cosy, soft, warm, breathable and can be found in a rainbow of colours. It will last for years and it doesn’t take a lot of effort to look after it. The majority of my cashmere jumpers have been bought secondhand. My reasons for buying secondhand cashmere are: I haven’t looked into the cashmere industry enough to know about the production methods. The price is vastly lower when buying secondhand. In terms of the environmental impact, it makes a huge difference to use clothes that are already in the market instead of producing new.

Secondhand cashmere is very easy to find. The majority of general secondhand and vintage shops sell it for a bargain price. I’ve found really good cashmere from the Oxfam Online Shop. And it can be found in literally every colour and style.

My top tips for buying secondhand cashmere online

• Choose a secondhand seller that you trust. I recommend the Oxfam Online Shop, I’ve not had a bad item from them. Or try an online shop that you have already used before. If you are looking at eBay or Etsy, check the reviews!
• Not all cashmere is the same quality. If I see a piece that I like secondhand, I will go to the brand website and read about their cashmere firsthand.  If the cashmere retails at a high price, it’s more likely to be good quality ( although unfortunately not always!) I’ve bought cashmere that was originally from Whistles, Boden and Pringle of Scotland that all washes up beautifully. Typically if it is made in Scotland it will be of good quality. Another tip for quality checking is to try a google search for the brand name –  and see if anyone has reviewed their cashmere.
• Be careful with the lighter colours! Buying light coloured cashmere online is always going to be a little more tricky, you have to really trust that the seller has noticed every mark. Failing that, check the photos thoroughly.
• Similarly, if you notice the cashmere is stained, don’t buy it. It might wash out but you don’t actually know what the stain is. It’s probably not worth the bother.
• If the cashmere needs to be repaired, I would look elsewhere. I would always repair my own clothes but there are so many clothes out there in the secondhand market, it is not necessary to buy holey garments!
• For sizing, check the listing. It’s also worth going onto the original brand website to check the sizing there too, for reference.
• Think about how you want to style the cashmere. It’s almost automatic to search for your normal size but try searching for a smaller size for a more fitted look or larger for a more oversize cosy look.
• Check the men’s section too. Men clothing is often better quality. They often have different colours and designs too.
• Don’t forget to look for secondhand cashmere out of season. Sometimes the best deals can be found at the wrong time of year when no one else is looking. I bought this cardigan during one of the hottest summers ever!

The second cashmere I’m wearing here is Boden which I picked up on Ebay. I’ll be sharing another cashmere post at the end of the week. How to wash and store your cashmere pieces so stay tuned for that!

Sign up for ‘The Green Edition’ free monthly newsletter here for more sustainable fashion news and receive 100 zero waste fashion tips in your inbox!

Links are affiliated.