BNWT: Bought New Without Thinking

On the path towards more considered consumption, we’ve all had a few slips. It’s easy to claim conscious choices, but much more difficult to follow through. To be honest, the road to #LovedClothesLast has been fragmented, at best. 

Here, our team repurposes a common internet shopping acronym with our stories of when we, admittedly, BOUGHT NEW WITHOUT THINKING. It’s confession time. 

The travel incident 

Rosie Niblock, Digital Marketing Coordinator

“Last year I was on my way to the airport for a much anticipated holiday with the girls. Realising I did not have any ‘going out shoes’ I bought a pair of platform sandals in the British Heart Foundation on the way to the station. I popped in on the off chance but found some black and cork flat form sandals, in my size, good nick and would probably go with everything. Without thinking I bought them. I can’t walk in flat forms, they are too tight round my feet and rub, I wore my trusty Converse every night out and the sandals are still gathering dust.”

The unplanned treasure

Orsola de Castro, Cofounder & Creative Director

“Primark in Hammersmith at some point in the mid 90s. Lolling around keeping my daughters entertained as you do, in a rainy London afternoon.

Dusty pink corduroy trousers in the window, bit baggy, bit bootleg. We go in, we grab them, pay and go. 

The girls can’t believe it, they’ve never seen me buy this fast. If only it was always this easy, they seem to think. Now the girls are women and I am a granny. We still share the pink trousers. Damaged, loved.”

The no strings attached gift card purchase

Sienna Somers, Policy & Research Coordinator

“A few years ago, I was given a £100 gift voucher from someone who had returned an item to a relatively high-end store but when they couldn’t find anything else they liked in the store, passed the gift voucher on to me. When I went to redeem the vouchers, the store was filled with ‘mother-of-the-bride’ and ‘yummy-mummy’ style outfits. I recall grabbing a few of the nearest items and heading straight to the changing rooms. 

I ended up with a grey, polyester, over-priced dress with a frankly hideous stretchy elephant design belt… I am still unsure to this day whether I was going through an existential identity crisis (somewhat likely) or if I just felt like I had to buy something because it was practically free (although I do remember the dress costed more than the gift voucher). The dress still remains one of the least worn items in my wardrobe, I keep it with a vague hope that one day I will upcycle it into something I like or that I can trade it for something I love at a clothes swap. Nonetheless, it still sits in my wardrobe as a stark reminder to think before I buy.”

The tipsy BNWT

Roxanne Houshmand-Howell, Communications Lead

“Around 2007, when my only responsibilities were the mortgage on my flat and my dog – I worked for Katharine Hamnett and our favourite place for a working lunch was the Rivington Bar and Grill in Shoreditch. Every lunch meeting was followed by a swift diversion to our favourite store, Start. I loved their windows displays, the brands they stocked – I fell in love with Alexander Wang, sleek and simple. The glass topped cabinets with the most amazing accessories and jewellery. It was expensive, the kind of purchases you take time to consider and love forever. 

On one occasion, I found myself a little merry after drinks with my friend Wlad, we found ourselves in Start and tried on every pair of sunglasses… I managed to purchase a very expensive pair and we laughed in delight at being so frivolous! I adored them. On sobering up, I tried to justify my compulsive behaviour on Wlad and Prosecco.

I lost them shortly afterwards.”

The Costume 

Niamh Tuft, Global Network Manager

“A black shift dress with a faux damask pattern. Bought as a base layer to a fancy dress outfit at uni. I spent an afternoon cutting up silver bin bags and stapling them on to create a Courreges inspired plastic creation. Transformed into an afternoon tea outfit covered in pictures of tea cups, cake and clocks at 3pm stuck on with sticky back plastic. Then a 60’s New Year’s Eve outfit with knee high boots. Covered in newspapers for a party I can’t remember the theme of. Now somewhere in a box in my parents’ garage, no longer the right size and covered in staples, stitches and bits of sticky-back plastic. Only worn 4 times.”