Eva, 23, of York, says she started shopping for second-hand gifts a few years ago when she became more aware of over-shopping at Christmas.

“I started to think more about gifts people would like rather than falling into the trap of random spending just for Christmas fun,” she said. Stylist. “With second-hand gifts, the fact that you’ve gone out of your way to find something unique really means a lot. I gave my mom some beautiful cut glasses, which I found in an antique store, and bought some vintage handbags for friends.

Likewise, Becky, 24, from Shropshire, says she was curious to take the same approach to shopping for second-hand gifts for loved ones as she did with her own clothing consumption. “I started to realize that buying people gifts that they probably didn’t want or needed was a waste of time, money and resources,” she explains. “A lot of the gifts I bought for my family and friends before weren’t really thoughtful. It was practically a panic buy, kind of what-can-i-get-last-minute-and-cheap, rather than considering what my family would actually like, appreciate and use.

However, the idea of ​​giving second-hand gifts carries a lot of stigma and can be seen as “cheap” or dated. “Second hand doesn’t mean second-hand or old, and it’s important to remember that this also counts for gifts,” reassures Blanchard. “Choosing a second-hand or second-hand item does not diminish the spirit of giving. If done right it can actually be more meaningful and it’s such an easy way to make your gifts for your loved ones truly personal and caring.