What does it mean for something to be “new.” The most frequent way we hear about it in terms of clothing is something that’s new with tags. What I’ve learned from my years of thrifting is that you can find things still new with tags at secondhand stores like Goodwill. Read on to see why sustainable shopping should include repairs.

That’s how I stumbled upon a full seasonal collection of Rachel Zoe’s ready-to-wear collection and a new-with-tags Prada blouse. Even if these items didn’t have the original tags on them, you easily can tell how new, or worn, pieces of clothing are by taking a close look at them in the store. In today’s Instagram culture where you likely wouldn’t want to be photographed in the same outfit twice, it’s not surprising that the majority of the items I’ve brought home from Goodwill look pretty much brand new. For items that are great quality but might need a little bit of repair, it’s still worth it to take them home and break out my sewing kit. They may have been worn before, but they’re still new to me and my closet!