Founded in 2022, Secondhand Club was created to explore the intersection between fashion and sustainability. Now, current club leaders Sophia H. ’25 and Natalie L. ’25 join Tatler today to explore some club lore, ludicrous microtrends, and favorite thrifting gems!

Timothy D. ’27 (TD): Tell me about yourself, as leaders of Secondhand Club.

Sophia H. ’25: I’m Sophia. We’re two of the five Secondhand Club leaders this year, and this is Secondhand Club’s third year running. 

Natalie L. ’25: I’m Natalie. This is my first year being a leader of the club. I was a member of Secondhand Club last year, and I really enjoyed learning about new fashion trends and how to make use of clothing while being resourceful. I also really enjoyed all of the sewing projects, so I was inspired to become a leader. 

TD: Can you tell me more about some events you guys host? 

SH: One of the fun things we do is a Met Gala fashion review. We also do upcycling days. We did a Pinterest vision board day, which was so much fun. And then some of our larger projects, which we started last year, are our two annual secondhand club sales. Those act as kind of a replacement of the rummage sale that Lakeside used to have. We organized a collection of items from the community, and then we set up outside the library. And we had them priced very low. It was all between one and five dollars — so much fun. 

Something [else] fun we did last year was a club thrift trip to the nearby Shoreline Goodwill [to] find cost-aware alternatives because brands that emphasize sustainability are often understandably quite expensive. Also our “Trashion Show,” which kicks off every year. 

TD: Tell me more about the Trashion Show!

SH: Basically, it’s been a thing for the three years the club has been in existence where people split up into groups. It’s a timed challenge, [and] the materials usually are just trash bags, scissors, tape, and then sometimes colored paper. People come up with some cool and creative designs in groups. At the end, we always do a little model walk, which is a lot of fun. 

Definitely a bit of a social commentary, but also a lot of fun and a great way for creative explorations.

TD: Did you have a favorite Trashion Show design?

SH: Honestly, this year they all were above and beyond. People get so creative. Some awesome headbands, some two-piece tops and skirts, some origami.

TD: Shifting gears a bit, as Secondhand Club leaders, what does fashion mean to you? 

NL: I think confidence is a key part of it. Expression, like Sophia said. I think comfort too. 

SH: Comfort, both physically and on another, emotional level. What makes you feel most like yourself? I feel like fashion has a profound impact as a tool for communication. [It’s] a way to engage with the world around you in a way that’s authentic to yourself. It can be bold, but true to yourself.

TD: Because you’ve been telling me about practicing sustainable fashion, do you mind providing some examples? 

SH: Most of us leaders practice sustainable fashion in our own lives. I love Goodwill or online secondhand sites. I also work part-time at a consignment store, so I can see how clothes are given the opportunity to have a second life instead of generating more waste.

I work on the sales floor [and] help organize clothing. I love getting to see people feel empowered when they pick out a new piece of clothing.

NL: I really enjoy sewing, so I figured out how to fix holes in my clothing. I also love to crochet and knit — I’ve been into learning how to make scarves and using resources rather than buying clothes that might end up in a landfill. 

SH: One of the main things that prevents people from actually engaging with sustainability is they feel there are major paradigm shifts that should occur. But it’s more about the things that don’t seem like they’ll have a major impact, but over time can build out to have a major impact, [like] finding ways to extend the lifespan of your clothes.

Timothy: Do you have a favorite piece of clothing that you got from thrifting? 

SH: Clothes can tell a story, and so it’s fun to continue that story and be part of a clothing piece’s life story… it’s a little bit cheesy. 

I feel like I found so many gems. Some of my favorite pieces are the cool pieces of vintage jewelry I found at flea markets. I think they’re really fun and I’m definitely a jewelry person — I love to be covered in stacks of bracelets. 

NL: I have this daisy sweater that I got from thrifting with my older sister. It’s comfy, and it’s cute. There’s like little daisies all over it. Nothing fancy. 

Timothy: Do you have any favorite memories from thrifting?

Sophia: Going through the comical t-shirt section of a Goodwill or a flea market. There [are] some hilarious ones in there.

Natalie: My mom wanted to get a disco outfit for her birthday this year, so we went to this second-hand costume shop. We spent two hours in there looking for jumpsuits and go-go boots. 

TD: Do you have a favorite thrift store?

SH: I love a lot of thrift stores that are in the Capitol Hill area. Late Night Vintage [Market] is super fun, but it can be a bit on the pricier side. I also love the Goodwill in SoDo.

Natalie: There’s a thrift store in Roche Harbor [in the] San Juan Islands. It sells not just clothes, but jewelry and vintage items. 

TD: Do you have any club lore you’re willing to share?

SH: Yes, okay, so we do have an Instagram account. Which might need a revamp this year. But it’s super cool. There’s definitely a lot of inside jokes [and] some funny emails in the past. 

One of my favorite club meetings we’ve done a couple times are microtrends. I feel like there’s a lot of lore in the very niche microtrends we’ve discussed — some crazy trends. 

I’m trying to think of some crazy ones. Flip-flop heels? 

NL: I think we talked about shoe pants or something — shoes connected to pants. 

Sophia: Kind of iconic, but maybe don’t invest your money there.

Timothy: What are your thoughts on the effects of microtrends?

Sophia: Definitely, we’ve discussed how as a consumer, microtrends can be harmful, just because things come in and out trend cycle so fast. Eventually, those will have a short lifespan, end up in the waste, [or] end up in the back of the closet. 

We definitely do make a little bit of humor out of them.

TD: Lastly, do you have any advice for people who want to be more fashionable? 

SH: Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. It can take a little while to find your own personal style, and that evolution is super cool. I don’t know if even we, as leaders, have all landed on our personal style yet. So take risks, have fun. Be creative. 

Reminder to keep an eye out for this year’s annual secondhand sales! Also, Secondhand Club meets in the Art Room every other Tuesday.

This interview has been edited for clarity.