A Manchester woman has carved out a “dream” career travelling across the country selling pre-loved clothing – after starting it as a side hustle during university.
Becky Chorlton’s firm Becky’s Bazaar has gone from strength to strength since its launch – while she’s also become a hit on social media platform TikTok.
Becky, 25, said: “The opportunities I’m getting now I never could’ve dreamt of.”
Originally, she started by buying clothes whenever and wherever she could, to make any possible profit.
And when the pandemic hit, she found herself with more time to dedicate to sourcing and reselling, giving her the opportunity to take her business even further.
Becky’s love for pre-loved fashion has been brewing since she was a little girl, as her mother, Sandra, introduced her to charity shops at a young age.
She said: “Getting to thrift alongside my mum makes me love it more. Our sourcing days are some of my fondest memories.”
With more and more people boycotting fast-fashion brands and opting to shop for pre-loved items, the popularity shows no sign of slowing down.
Nana Acheampong, Celebrity Stylist and Style Editor, said: “This is definitely here to stay, it’s just gonna gather more and more momentum.
“It’s a lot more accessible now than it was before, with things like depop and vinted.”
And as festival season comes to a close, opting for second-hand clothes has remained a popular choice for the majority of people.
Lloyd Canfield, 22, Sports Journalist and festival-goer, says: “Many people are turning to apps such as eBay, depop or vinted to get what they desire at a cheaper price.
“It feels better putting your money into someone’s pocket like yourself, rather than into the pockets of a billionaire.”
Buying second-hand is both environmentally friendly and cost-effective. Fashion production companies are responsible for 10% of total global carbon emission, which is as much as the European Union, according to Business Insider.
Becky said: “Each year around 92 million clothes end up in landfill, so it’s so important we’re not unnecessarily adding to this.”
Which was part of her motivation to start the business.
Since launching, Becky’s Bazaar has gone from strength to strength, which is only possible with the support of her family and friends.
Becky said: “What makes it special is everybody in my life has genuinely fallen in love with Becky’s Bazaar.
“It often makes me emotional to think about how much the people in my life have sacrificed to make sure I get to do the job I love every single day – I’ll be forever grateful.”
Among other achievements, Becky has become a TikTok star, gaining a following of over 175k, where she films her adventures, showing you her journeys to different charity shops and car boot sales across the country.
Through this platform, she has inspired many people to take up shopping for pre-loved items instead of following the trends produced by fast fashion brands.
Saying it’s beneficial “not only for our wardrobes but also our pockets and planet”.
Nana supports this, she said: “It’s important not to get hung up on trends when you’re dealing with fashion, that can cost you a fortune.
“Fashion should be about having fun.”
As for the future of Becky’s Bazaar, although she likes to take each day as it comes, she said she hopes “Becky’s Bazaar can make it to TV or even on a billboard” and wants to continue to be “a small voice in the movement to promote second hand shopping”.
