Laya is an actor best known for her role in the E4 hit TV show Skins. She is also a voice over artist and youth worker.
“I had to really come full circle with second hand clothes as a late teen, because I grew up in hand me downs and absolutely hated it. However, I think a shift in the narrative surrounding what it means to wear pre-loved clothing could have changed everything for me as a youngster. And growing up in Bristol, where amazing vintage clothing was made accessible to everyone through shops like ‘That Thing’ & ‘Seven’, well, that was the beginning of my second-hand journey.
I think there’s a certain magic to shopping in charity shops; how it makes you feel, the pieces you find and how you put them together. As my style evolves, items that I’ve had for years, suddenly work in new and wonderful ways. An amazing afternoon for me in London is heading to some of my fav spots that have a seriously good line up of Charity Shops, Holloway Road, Walworth Road & Kentish Town to name a few. A little rough round the edges yeah, but often where you find the best bits. My favourite, that’s tough, I think I’d have to say St Vincent’s on Holloway Road. I haven’t been for while, having shifted to the dark side and become a South London girl, but this is a great spot.
It’s well curated with a lot of high-quality pieces, as well as items on the cheaper side that are just a bit of fun. Also, can we talk about sizing. A lot of charity shops don’t size their pieces and as a curvy girl that can be extremely disappointing. The repetitive task of trying things on only to be disappointed when they don’t fit. Putting clothing sizes on hangers in charity shops just makes such a difference, so thankyou St Vincent’s.
I’m incredibly grateful to share my experiences of shopping second hand, especially if it inspires others to do the same. To enter into this fun space, where the options aren’t endless, but your imagination can be, all the while serving an important social purpose.”
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Liked this post? Why not check out a previous post, ‘How maximalist fashion and sustainability go hand in hand‘
