As someone who grew up shopping at high street stores, with a wardrobe that was 90% fast-fashion brand Topshop as a teenager, my shift to almost exclusively shopping second-hand has taken over a decade to develop. When I moved to Norway in my early twenties, I was shocked to see that, despite the country's wealth and high standard of living, people were still buying from retailers like Bikbok, H&M, Zara, Shein, Temu, and others—brands that harm the planet and exploit the people who make the clothes. On the flip side, spending on second-hand fashion is on the rise in Norway.

This article won't delve into the many reasons to avoid fast fashion (a quick internet search will cover that!), but instead, I’ll share some tips on how to make your Oslo-based wardrobe more sustainable for both people and the planet.

Finding “new” clothes in Oslo

A first good step to committing to a more sustainable wardrobe is simply to buy less. However, this is easier said than done for most of us, especially those of us with an interest in fashion. Here are some ways you can refresh your wardrobe without buying from the high street:

Thrifting

Shopping at second hand and vintage shops means that you can find clothes that are new to you, but not new new. My favourite place to go second hand shopping in Oslo is Grünerløkka, there are so many different options that on some weekends I end up doing a pub crawl-style pilgrimage up and down Thorvald Meyers gate. Some of my favourites are UFF, Retrolykke and Fretex Arkivet.

Buying second hand garments online

If spending hours traipsing around thrift shops on a Saturday is not your cup of tea, try buying second hand from peers on Tise or FINN.no instead. The Tise app is specifically set up to help people find new clothes, shoes and accessories, meaning that you can use their filters to find the specific size, colour, material or brand that you are looking for. The only downside with buying clothes online is that you cannot try them on for size! I recommend checking size guides and buying a measuring tape so that you can get to know your measurements.

Renting for special occasions

Got a julebord, wedding, awards ceremony or another “fancy” occasion coming up? Instead of buying a new special outfit that you probably won’t get much wear out of, why not rent your outfit for the day? Clothing rental services like ReLi allow you to either go into their store to try on their clothing, or make an order online if that is more convenient. After you have worn the outfit, they take care of all of the dry cleaning.

Extending the life cycle of your clothes

So we’ve addressed ways we can refresh our wardrobes, but what about the items of clothing we already have? How do we look after them? How can we extend the life cycle of the clothes in our wardrobe? Here are a few tips:

Think before you buy

This might sound obvious, but going shopping is a dopamine-producing exercise. As in, our brains ACTUALLY release endorphins and dopamine when we make a purchase. This means that we need to re-train our brains when we are on a shopping trip. It can be helpful to ask yourself: how often will I wear this item? What kind of fabric is it made out of? Do I actually need it? One exercise I have started doing is trying an item in a shop, walking away from it for a few hours and seeing if I am actually still thinking about it/wanting to buy it at the end of the day. More often than not, my brain was making an impulsive decision that I can ignore!

Create a capsule wardrobe (/find your niche)

A capsule wardrobe is a simplified collection of clothes that can be mixed and matched to create a variety of outfits for different occasions. To create a capsule wardrobe you have to have quite a good idea of your own personal sense of style, rather than just following the trends. For example, I LOVE animal print and I am naturally drawn to it whilst out thrift shopping. This has been the case for a number of years, regardless of changing trends. Find the things you like, and stick to them!

Fixing and making your own clothes.

As someone who learnt to knit in Norway, I now have so much appreciation for the work that goes into making clothes. It is safe to say that I can now see the connection between labour exploitation and fast fashion brands. Perhaps embracing the Norwegian tradition of knitting or sewing your own clothes, can also be a way of slowing your consumption of clothing. Oslo-based sewing company Fæbrik have plenty of resources for learning how to sew on their website.

Finding a new home for your “old” clothes in Oslo

Last but not least, what do we do with clothes that we no longer want or have use for? Clothes that no longer fit us or our personal sense of style, for example. You can try:

Clothes swaps

One option is giving away clothes to your friends or organising a clothes-swapping event for your friendship group. Everyone can bring a few items that they no longer wear and you can spend an evening trying things on and swapping your “old” clothes for “new” ones. If you don’t have time to organise this yourself, Naturvernforbundet organise a yearly clothes swapping event across the whole of Norway each Spring, so keep your eyes peeled for that!

Selling your clothes

You can help your clothes find a new home where they will be loved more than you are currently loving them, by selling them on! As mentioned previously, apps like Tise and Finn allow you to set up an account to sell your clothing, shoes and accessories. If you are looking for an in-person option, REWEAR, have stores in Grønland and Majorstuen that you can sell your garments at.

UFF bins

If you simply don’t have time to give away or sell your clothes to peers and are just looking to do a wardrobe clear out, you can put clothing and shoes in your local UFF bin. Clothes donated to UFF bins are collected, sorted, and then either sold in second-hand shops or sent to countries in need, where they are redistributed to support local communities. The process helps promote sustainable fashion and reduces waste.

By embracing Oslo's thriving second-hand fashion scene, we can contribute to a more sustainable and ethical clothing culture in the city. Together, all of us can create a wardrobe that's better for both the planet and the people who call Oslo home.