Second-hand store with an innovative ethical purpose

A new Auckland second hand store is bringing an innovative, ethical and sustainable approach to the fashion scene.

Landfill, situated on Richmond Road in Grey Lynn, showcases New Zealand and overseas designers’ work.

Owner Malorie Cooney, who studied fine arts majoring in fashion at Whitecliffe College of Art and Design, has always had a love for sewing and altering clothes.

Her aim for the store is to showcase brands that have not been mass produced to allow her to exactly know the process the clothes have been through to get to her store.

“I want to confidently say to customers that my store is completely upcycled and I know where each piece of clothing has been made in hopes it may change their view on the way they shop for clothes,” she says.

Ms Cooney finds creatives and designers online from websites such as Esty and expresses interests if they fit her ethical requirements.

Currently Ms Cooney is in contact with brands from Dunedin, Berlin and Poland, while brands from LA and Auckland and a few of Ms Cooney’s own pieces are showcasing in her store.

Bella Kingi, an Auckland based designer, created her brand Statch where she buys second hand t-shirts and sews on her own patterns.

Statch t-shirts are being sold at Landfill and for Ms Kingi she sees it as an amazing opportunity for her brand to be seen by a wider variety of people.

“People nowadays, myself included at times, have stopped seeing the quality in clothing, looking only for quantity and I think that if we can change that attitude towards the buying of clothes then designers like myself can flourish,” she says.

Ms Kingi says she relates to the ethical and sustainable idea behind Landfill and sees it as a unique way to be able to engage with customers.

Every aspect of the Landfill store has been recycled including the wood used to build the changing rooms and the counter.

Professor Geoffrey Craig, environmentalist from Auckland University of Technology, believes the initiative is a great idea that will help people become more aware of the importance of sustainability in their everyday lives.

“There are increasing numbers of people who are already aware about the importance of becoming more sustainable and ethical with regard to their everyday consumption practices and are seeking out such stores,” he says.

Ms Cooney likes to think small change creates big change.

“Even though I’m only one little person in New Zealand I’d like to think I can open the conversation that people need to start thinking consciously about buying and throwing away clothes,” she says.