I felt inspired to honour Oxfam's annual campaign 'Second Hand September', with a post dedicated to how I find print design inspiration in vintage and second hand pieces.
But first...a look into Second Hand September. The initiative aims to raise awareness about the environmental and social impacts of fast fashion. Allowing us to slow down and think about overconsumption and the throwaway culture of fashion. Urging us to use September to purchase second-hand items, swap clothes or make do with what we already own. Which I love!
As a fashion consumer and clothes lover, I already shop as much second hand and vintage as I can. Not only to help save the planet but to find affordable and unique pieces. With charity shops (like Oxfam), up and down the UK high streets, online platforms like Vinted and Ebay, vintage shops like Rokit, Beyond Retro (a couple of affordable favourites) and the many independent vintage sellers up and down the country, there's plenty of choice. There's really no better feeling than searching through rails of vintage or second hand clothing to suddenly find a piece that you fall in love with, and that simply must come home with you right away, before promptley wearing on repeat for at least two weeks to show off your new find.
As a designer, I have spent the last few years aiming to work with fashion brands and studios that adopt ethical practices. Whether that be in the the fabrics, dyes or printing techniques they use, minimizing overproduction on collections, reducing fabric waste & upcylcing left over materials or offering transparancy on their supply chain and how items are made. Allowing me to sell and produce prints for products I know will be worn, loved and last. Hopefully still here in years to come, ready to be fallen in love with in a vintage shop somewhere.
Quality over quantity, is key and quality is something I love about vintage clothing. I just bought the most incredible silk two piece tartan set from the 70's (above) it needs a little adjusting but the fact its still here, after years of Christmas party outings (probably) in near perfect condition is so special. My adimiration for vintage often comes into play when I'm looking for print design inspiration. Struggling to land on the perfect colourway? look to vintage. Can't quite find the composition of a new floral design to work? look to vintage dresses. Creative block on that tropical print? vintage shirts are your best friend. Need to create another stripe or another ditsy but think there can't possibly be more varitations? vintage! Second hand clothing has a similar effect, a printed dress that was once produced in the thousands and loved by many has key components to learn from; composition, colourway, motifs, texture...A quick walk to the local chairty shop has cured many a creative block! (and aided in my need to shop)
Anyway, here's some recent vintage and second hand pieces I've come across, that I'll be saving for upcoming print design inspiration:
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If you are a brand interested in commissioning any prints inspired by mood boards shared on my blog or would like to work together on building your own design concept, I would love to hear from you. You can get in touch via email: harrietruscoe@gmail.com
Follow on instagram for prints in progress, design inspiration & recent work: @harrietruscoe
Harriet Ruscoe Design
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