I LOVE my job.
I work for St Vincent De Paul, managing one of their 'retro boutiques'.
We have the best of what gets donated in our stores, including vintage, retro, designer and brand new clothing, accessories, bric a brac, books, records and gift vouchers.
Recycling makes me happy, as does charity, and the fact SO MANY people are into it too is phenomenal!
My customers are amazing. So many true individuals and so much creativity walking around, it does a myriad of favours to my cynicism, in the same way body modification thrills me. The appeal lies less in the aesthetic than with the lasting appreciation of having experienced something wholly original from the mind of a peer.
People shoplift, abuse me, damage our treasures, act like snobs and arseholes and I get paid $16ph to clean up their mess but I don't even mind. I get paid a charity wage that is less than I was paid at my first video ezy job! Although I feel underappreciated, being surrounded by change is exciting, especially in an area like Northbridge, and I would be sad to leave.
Second hand shopping is such a wonderful concept, I don't buy anything new anymore and I have boycott anything made in China. We recycle our garbage, sell our cars secondhand and share our possessions among friends, buying second hand is a logical step that minimises our carbon footprints even further. Op Shops are not just for people needing welfare, all of the money goes straight back into the community and there is no shortage of clothing. The thrill of a bargain or one of piece should be incentive enough!
People are becoming fond of 'vintage' or 'op shop' themed paries, where everyone gets to make an outfit and the proceeds go to charity. Anglicare hosts an Op Shop Ball every year in Perth that would raise millions of dollars for people in need, with disabilities, limited income, single parents, new immigrants, people newly released from jail, remote communities and disaster victims. What an empowering thought to be sharing yourself so far.
Upon visiting the museum of W.A last week it occured to me that if such an establishment was a supposed accurate reflection of society through the ages, wouldn't an op shop be a moving timeline? The things inside reflecting the uses of real life, something once useful that has stood the test of time and been passed along/ replaced. Everything that is donated has been intentionally bought and used. What do we use the most? What do we replace the most? What should we be recycling the most of now and what will change if we don't?
Fact: Crimpalene/ Terylene was discontinued as a fabric for clothing because designers/ clothing houses were not making enough profit due to its resiliant nature, no one needed to buy as many new clothes to replace threadbare ones! (such a shame is sucks to wear)
