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From Retail to Resale: A Trend to Slow Down Fashion

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In the world of fashion, consumers are starting to realize that “fast” often means “wasteful.” Fast fashion is the Louis Vuitton pursesbusiness model where clothing designers produce trendy fashion apparel and accessories through a fast and cheap process. These products may be replicas of fashion designs that were featured on the catwalk, or they may be promoted by celebrities and online influencers. But this endless cycle of mass-produced, low-cost goods forces manufacturers to make compromises along the way. Workplace conditions, wages and environmental considerations are ignored to meet consumers’ demand as quickly as possible.

And when the trends move on to some new look, what’s left? These fast fashion designs don’t get the same workmanship or high-quality materials as luxury brands, and the products often aren’t made to outlast the trend.

Sustainability and A Circular Economy

Fortunately, there is a growing trend of fashion-conscious consumers who are making a deliberate effort to embrace shopping with a different mindset. High fashion brands are known for high quality workmanship and these goods can last a long time when cared for properly. Buying a pre-loved handbag puts couture brands in reach for more customers, but this altered behavior benefits more than just the consumers who recognize the cost benefits. It also helps the environment through sustainability and encourages a circular economy.

A circular economy tackles the new threats we are facing today, such as climate change, biodiversity, waste, and pollution. Instead of following a take, make, and waste linear system, a circular economy moves to a reuse, share, repair, refurbish, remanufacture, and recycle goods. This makes it more of a closed-loop system that places less burden on the environment to produce new raw materials.

If everyone does their part, we can make a difference for sustainability. The choices we make when shopping can have multiple advantages not only to our wallet but also to the environment. But shopping with a more thoughtful mindset still requires smart choices. Buying designer or luxury items at a resale location whether it be online or in-person, also has risks, so be sure to shop at a reputable retailer who can authenticate the products they sell.

Kamaaina Loan now has that ability to authenticate brand name purses and handbags for a nominal fee. This gives you the ability to see for yourself the authenticity of a designer handbag. While you’re there, check out their selection of pre-loved Louis Vuitton handbags.

Imaginary pawn shop

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This is a new one on us — an imaginary pawn shop where you can look through the windows but not go in and touch the merchandise. Comments are enthusiastic but we think browsing through a real pawn shop is more fun.

Look but don't touch

Look but don’t touch

OK, it’s a Disney thing. Walt was always yammering on about imagination.

We prefer the reality of Kamaaina Loan And Cash For Gold.

Is pawn lending fringe or mainstream?

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pawnFor years, students of pawn lending have described it as an alternative to regular banking or — in the words of economist John Caskey — a form of “fringe” banking. Caskey, for one, is friendly to the pawn business, and even pawn lenders themselves have taken to calling themselves fringe lenders.

Unlike some other fringe groups, the designation is generally positibve.

Parking, parking, who’s got the parking?

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North Market Street is a great place to do business in many ways, but it was even better before the county started eliminating parking spaces.

Saturday, Kamaaina Loan sent an observer out to see what more parking means for business. The locale: the Upcountry farmers market.

The market used to be held at the Eddie Tam Community Center, which has maybe a dozen parking stalls. And it used to attract about 6 vendors and perhaps two dozen customers over the course of a couple of hours every Saturday morning.

If somebody was setting up the meeting room in the center for a baby luau or birthday party, which was usually the case, there was even less parking.

Over a year ago, for reasons unrelated to parking, the market was moved to the private parking lot next to Longs at Kulamalu Town Center.

It took a while for people to get used to it, but nowadays, the farmers market draws at least 5o vendors and we don’t know how many customers. But last Saturday, the parking lot — we didn’t count, but it has probably 300-400 stalls — was full. Overfull.

People wanting to get at the locally-made jellies, just-picked avocados, fresh greens and sausage biscuits (among many other things) had to park along the access road, and the overflow of cars reached nearly to Maikalani (the offices of the Institute for Astronomy).

We cannot think of a clearer example of what you need for business stimulation.