Second Life Markets’ Nadia Razlan talks Sydney fashion, vintage clothing and top thrifting tips

• Second Life Markets return to Carriageworks this weekend, bringing over 90 curated stalls to Carriageworks.
• We spoke to Nadia Razlan, SLM’s Director and Event Producer, about all things second-hand clothing.
• She gave us her best thrifting tips, a special insight into the growth of Second Life and her opinion on Sydney fashion.

Second Life Markets return to Sydney this weekend, with over 90 stalls taking over Carriageworks on Sunday. As second-hand shopping continues to be a trend that everyone can get behind, Nadia shares how a garage sale with friends snowballed into a global thrifting movement that’s helping reshape the way we shop.

How it all began

What started as a humble garage sale between friends has grown into one of the most exciting preloved fashion events on the map. Second Life Markets (SLM) is now a staple in cities across Australia, the UK and Asia, for its curated stalls of vintage gems.

Nadia credits the start of SLM to her two best friends, Meg Charnaud and Stella Brackenridge.

“SLM was born in Perth, WA by my two best friends, Meg and Stella. Struggling to find spots where selling quality preloved pieces were truly valued in Perth, they gathered 15 of their friends and threw a garage sale — and Second Life grew from here. I started as a seller, constantly rotating my clothes, and when I moved to Sydney a few years ago with Stella, we spontaneously started SLM here to see how it would go, and it’s only grown organically since!”

The evolution of the markets highlights that the global demand for access to quality second-hand clothing is only growing.

“What started as a mindless garage sale has evolved into large-scale events that attract thousands of attendees across Australia, the UK, and Asia! I think SLM has become beyond just a place to shop, but more so a place where sustainability, creativity, and community conjoin.”

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How to thrift like a pro: Nadia’s top tips

Thrifting can be intimidating, and Nadia understands that some people may be “overwhelmed” during their first time at preloved markets. However, her approach is simple:

Be patient:

“I think the best way to approach it is to be patient and not rush into finding something you’ll attach to instantly. Most of the time when I’m thrifting, I might already have an idea of a piece I’m after, and you’d be surprised by how often, by skimming through a rack, the right one pops up.”

Be open:

Thrifting isn’t just about finding the perfect fit straight off the bat. Nadia encourages buyers to think about the bigger picture and how a piece might fit into your wardrobe.

“Other times, I’ll stumble across something super unusual and unique that I never thought I’d wear, but later find myself styling it and drawing inspiration from it in my wardrobe.”

Think longevity:

Breaking the fast fashion cycle starts with choosing quality pieces that add lasting value to yoru wardrobe: items you’ll wear often and truly enjoy.

“What’s most important is looking for timeless pieces that bring longevity into your wardrobe.”

Behind the scenes: quality and authenticity

When asked how SLM keeps its offering curated and authentic, Nadia explained the “very strict application process” that sellers must complete to be able to host a stall at their events.

“We have sellers apply via our website where they will need to provide with a clear description of the pieces they’re selling, price points, and attach images of their products to showcase their stall. On event day, we also carry out quality checks from stall to stall to ensure everything meets the Second Life standards.”

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The importance of secondhand fashion

For Nadia, secondhand fashion isn’t just about sustainability, it’s also about individuality.

“I think second hand shopping is important because pieces get reworn, reloved, and passed down, rather than ending up in landfill. Fashion moves so quick these days, and with that, so much waste. But personally, I think beyond sustainability, it’s also about individuality. People are starting to shift more towards secondhand and vintage because each piece carries a sense of uniqueness, rarity and history – which you don’t just get from buying new.”

This isn’t just a shift happening in everyday attitudes towards second-hand clothing, but at the highest levels of fashion.

“Celebrities are so often being dressed in archive and vintage looks these days, with stylists pulling one of one pieces for red carpets, press tours, and generally people recognising that the rarer and more unique the piece, the more special it feels. The special thing about shopping second-hand is celebrating the story and character of the piece, rather than following the extremely fast cycles of trends.”

Breaking the misconceptions

When asked what the common misconceptions are surrounding second-hand clothing, Nadia said “that second-hand clothes are old, worn out or perhaps even “untrendy”.

“You’d be surprised to find that some of the best finds can be barely worn and hold timelessness you can’t get from buying new. People also hold the misconception that it’s unhygienic, but, come on, common sense is to refresh the piece and clean it just like anything you’d try on in a store!

People also love to associate second-hand shopping with spending on a budget, or digging through piles of junk – but as I said, the true beauty about it is individuality, self-expression and finding pieces you wouldn’t ever really find in mainstream fashion.”

Nadia’s Best Find

It’s no surprise that someone who constantly attends second-hand markets has a phenomenal wardrobe, however even Nadia can’t believe she managed to secure this item at an SLM event.

“I will never ever let this one go — at the very first ever SLM event I hosted in Sydney, I came across the iconic and incredibly rare 1994 Moschino Question Mark Fur Jacket. Until this day it’s one of my most prized possessions and such a beautiful reminder as to why secondhand is so special! You never know what you’re going to find — and it may even be a piece older than you are!”

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Sydney fashion: individualism vs repetitiveness

Sydney fashion often gets a lot of criticism, but Nadia thinks there’s a uniqueness here that should be respected.

“Sydney definitely has a very unique sense of individualism! You’ll find from the Australian designer lovers to those who really step out of the box and experiment with different trends in their own ways. I think because Australia is so isolated from the rest of the world, Australian fashion almost stands in its own category – if you get what I mean?

You really see both ends of the spectrum – the minimalists and the maximalists to the max – which is what makes Sydney so unique. It’s cool to see a strong community of creatives who aren’t afraid to experiment!”

She does note that Sydney fashion can sometimes feel repetitive, with many jumping on the same trends. However, this makes vintage shopping all the more important.

“I do find though, that trends catch on super quickly here. A lot of the time you’ll see everyone wearing every single strand all at once – I like to say they look like walking Pinterest boards. It can make fashion feel a little repetitive, which is why I think vintage is so refreshing. It allows people to step away from that cycle and lean into individuality.”

What’s next for Second Life Markets?

SLM is already in cities all over the world, however Nadia shares that they’re always excited for more growth.

“We’ve recently just dived into Asia, where I hosted our very first event in my hometown Kuala Lumpur – which was such a special and full circle for me! From here I’d really love to conquer South East Asia and eventually take SLM to places like Japan, China and Korea, which I can only imagine would be insane.

“I know the girls definitely have Europe on the cards, and eventually America too. It feels like the possibilities are endless and it makes things so exciting, seeing SLM grow into a global community!”

Upcoming Sydney events

Second Life Markets will be at Carriageworks this Sunday at 9:30am-6pm. You can get your tickets here.

Not free? SLM are also hosting a Sydney Archive event as Machine Hall on Clarence Street on Sunday, September 14, with 25 sellers from all across Australia and South east Asia selling furniture, books, magazines and more.

There will also be an exciting Japanese Designer Archive event at the Ace Hotel on Sunday, October 19.

Second Life Markets will also return to Carriageworks on Sunday, November 2 and Sunday, December 21.

Second Life Markets

Where: Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh NSW 2015.
When: Sunday, August 31, 9:30am-6pm.
Price: Tickets from $5.