對于追求時尚的人來說，有一種選擇比買新衣服更省錢，那就是淘二手古著。另一方面，如果你在意 “快時尚” 給氣候變化造成的影響，那么舊衣新穿也許更適合你。聽 “隨身英語” 討論為什么有越來越多的人對二手古著青睞有加。

詞匯：fashion 時尚

Do you take care about what you wear? Some people are very fashion-conscious, carefully selecting the clothes they buy and how they dress. Fashionistas always want to be seen in the latest designer gear. But that trend is changing as retro or vintage clothing is becoming a popular and often cheaper alternative.

Of course, ‘vintage’ clothing is really second-hand clothing, worn before but given a new lease of life. The fashion industry has rebranded this stuff to make it look trendy and possibly give it a higher price tag. Whereas we may have seen an old faded pair of jeans or a gingham-patterned dress sold at a jumble sale, now there are boutique and pop-up shops dedicated to the stuff. And in the UK, one supermarket chain has started selling second-hand clothes in some of its stores under the brand, Preloved Vintage Wholesale. Its managing director Steve Lynam told the BBC:  “The more people that buy into the circular economy and shop vintage and retro, the bigger impact we will have on climate change.”

Certainly, buying vintage does prolong the life of clothing. It cuts down on waste and helps to reduce the environmental damage caused by manufacturing new clothes. It’s also led to the rise of retro-fashion – items that your mum or dad wore decades ago that now look ‘cool’ again! It’s a big thing with younger people and has been helped by the rise of platforms like Depop and Vinted, which sell ‘worn’ clothes online. Ianina Lucca from Depop told the BBC: “The new generation is… looking to make choices that reduce their impact on the environment, with 77% of Gen Z saying that their biggest environmental concern being that they want their choices to reduce waste.”

Another popular way of buying old clothes is in a vintage kilo sale. People pick what they want and then pay according to weight rather than per item. Some items are upcycled – re-modelled or re-worked by adding embroidery, patches and other additions. But however these second-hand clothes are worn or re-designed, the sustainability of vintage fashion means it’s here to stay for some time to come.

詞匯表

fashion-conscious 講究時髦的，有時尚意識的
fashionista 時尚達人
designer 出自著名設計師的
gear 衣服
retro 復古的
vintage 古著的，復古二手的
second-hand 二手的
a new lease of life 舊衣服的 “新生命”
rebrand 重塑形象，重新包裝
trendy 新潮的，時尚的
price tag 標價
faded 褪色的
gingham-patterned 方格布圖案的
boutique 時裝精品店
pop-up shop 快閃店
circular economy 循環經濟
manufacture 制造，生產
upcycle 升級改造
embroidery 刺繡圖案
sustainability 可持續性

測驗與練習

1. 閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. What is possibly a cheaper option than buying brand new clothes?

2. Who has rebranded second-hand clothes to make them look fashionable again?

3. How can buying pre-worn clothes help reduce climate change?

4. True or false? Your mum or dad may have worn the same style of clothing that is being sold as vintage clothing now. 

5. How is the cost of clothing bought at a vintage kilo sale calculated?

2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. On holiday, I left my expensive _______ sunglasses on the beach!

rebranded                    designer                       boutique                    embroidery

2. I’ve repaired and cleaned my old bike and given it a _______.

new lease of life           new leased of life         new life of lease        new lease and life

3. It’s my birthday, so I’m going for dinner at that _______ restaurant in the town centre.

fashionista                    upcycled                       trendy                        second-hand

4. The _______ industry has done a lot to cut down on its environmental impact.

manufacturers              manufacturing              manufactures             manufactured

5. I heard there is a new _______ clothing store in the city centre. Do you want to go and check out if they sell any nice second-hand dresses?

price tag                        gear                              rebranding                 vintage

答案

1.  閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. What is possibly a cheaper option than buying brand new clothes? 
Buying retro or vintage clothing is an often cheaper alternative. 

2. Who has rebranded second-hand clothes to make them look fashionable again?
The fashion industry has rebranded second-hand clothing to make it look trendy and possibly give it a higher price tag.

3. How can buying pre-worn clothes help reduce climate change?
Buying vintage prolongs the life of clothing. It cuts down on waste and helps to  reduce the environmental damage caused by manufacturing new clothes.

4. True or false? Your mum or dad may have worn the same style of clothing that is being sold as vintage clothing now.
True. Items that your mum or dad wore decades ago now look 'cool' again!

5. How is the cost of clothing bought at a vintage kilo sale calculated?
People pick what they want and then pay according to weight rather than per item.

2.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. On holiday, I left my expensive designer sunglasses on the beach! 

2. I’ve repaired and cleaned my old bike and given it a new lease of life.

3. It’s my birthday, so I’m going for dinner at that trendy restaurant in the town centre.

4. The manufacturing industry has done a lot to cut down on its environmental impact.

5. I heard there is a new vintage clothing store in the city centre. Do you want to go and check out if they sell any nice second-hand dresses?