Vancouver woman’s online consignment store hopes to slow the rise of ‘fast fashion’

A Vancouver woman is hoping to change the way we shop for used clothing.

Chloe Popove, 23, has launched My Modern Closet, which sells second-hand clothing online.

How does Modern Closet work?

“They can book an appointment online. They book a pick-up or a drop-off. So I can come to your house, I pick up the clothes and within 24 hours you have 20 per cent cash and you have 20 per cent credit to continue shopping,” she said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "They can book an appointment online. They book a pick-up or a drop-off. So I can come to your house, I pick up the clothes and within 24 hours you have 20 per cent cash and you have 20 per cent credit to continue shopping," she said.

Popove admits there’s plenty of competition from the likes of eBay, Craigslist as well as bricks-and-mortars stores like Value Village, but she believes the market has room to grow.

“Buying second-hand is great for everyone,” Popove said. “Everything that I have on the website is almost brand new. It’s beautiful and you get to give clothes a second life.”

Retail expert David Ian Gray say her idea is not without merit.

“The big trend is fast fashion and the big brands— Zara and H&M are expanding rapidly right around the world,” Gray said.

“In the midst of that we’re seeing a counter-trend — you might call it the hipster movement. You’re seeing younger people seek out their primary fashion sources in second-hand and thrift and vintage and creating their own unique styles in doing so.

– With files from Catherine Urquhart