Sophia Romanos talks with thrift fashion label, Laid Project about ethics, retro finds and low-waisted jeans.
Hitting up Glassons, Hallensteins or Cotton On is a common go-to, especially when the student discount emails come through and you just got paid from your shitty minimum wage job. Third year students Tuscany Main and Caitlin Shea are the directors of thrift label, Laid Project, and are all about tossing fast fashion in favour of advocating for reused clothes to support sustainability.
“We’ve sworn off the house of G now… we’ve agreed to ban Glassons.” Tuscany laughs. “I don’t think I’ve bought any clothes for a long time. Everything I own is thrifted.”
Caitlin says she hates even the thought of funding fast fashion.
The pair source clothes from various op shops and resell them under the Laid Project name on both their Instagram account and website.
In conversation with the girls, we got onto celebrity trends and how vintage clothing isn’t only an ethical choice, but a stylistic one as well. Caitlin says that people’s association with the word ‘vintage’ is something that’s constantly changing as trends evolve. “It’s street style at the moment - that’s a big thing with celebrities and higher end brands like Gucci,” Tuscany says.
“Vintage is thrifted clothing and has a very street style look about it. So, I think higher end is enticing and filters all the way down to Glassons who are trying to recreate a thrifted look in a fast fashion take.”
Thrifted clothes from Laid Project range from about $8 for a t-shirt to $30 for a jacket. Brands like Levi’s and Huffer are not uncommon to come across as the pair are constantly hunting for new items to sell - if they don’t decide to keep them for themselves. The affordability, in addition to the popularity of the style, entices many students towards the thrifted market. Whilst fast fashion can be cheap - quality is often very questionable.
“Fuck fast fashion. That’s actually our goal. I think a lot of people agree with it,” says Tuscany.
The girls suggest that hitting up any old op shop won’t necessarily solve the problem at hand. Purchasing items from local charity stores to support the Hospice or the Red Cross is something the pair hold in high regard. “Savemart are for-profit, so they aren’t donating that money to anyone, they’re just like any other store.” Caitlin says, “But, op shops like Mercy Hospice, they’re giving money to the hospice, or Red Cross are giving money to the Red Cross.”
It pays off. Whether it’s in the name of sustainability, ethics or on-trend fashion, starting to question the labels you buy from is absolutely worth doing. The 90’s and 00’s are still thriving through fashion and the girls both agree that it’s a fun thing to look into.
Tuscany Main and Caitlin Shea: @laidproject