Health, Beauty and Lifestyle with Denise McNamara

We all know them – that annoyingly gifted person who is always able to snare a bargain in the second shops and arrive at a do looking a million dollars for a few quid. My sister is one, I’ve two friends who are also adept at it. I’m absolutely useless, I just have no patience rooting through all the rails to find my size or taste.

I used to do it when I was a stone broke teenager with plenty of time on my hands because I could never find any clothes I liked in the 80s – so I used to hitch up to Galway from Mayo and spend hours visiting the huge array of shops which sold grungy, Cure-head inspired clothes for a pittance.

These days if they call themselves vintage and look anyways trendy they charge London for secondhand clothes. One on the Docks is charging over €60 for a pair of jeans!

But I am reliably informed that the charity second hand shops are still well worth visiting in Galway and prices are still very reasonable.

If you are somebody with the gift – your time has come.

Enable Ireland has launched a new competition, ‘The Final Find’, a nationwide search for Ireland’s most creative stylists and upcyclers, all leading up to the ultimate celebration of sustainable fashion this Autumn.

Participants must first demonstrate their flair for sustainable fashion by introducing themselves and their unique style via Instagram or TikTok and complete a short submission form. If they make it through that round, their skills will then be put to the test when they receive the mystery bag of donated clothing selected by Enable Ireland’s retail team.

Each week, creators will go head-to-head online, judged by secret special guests. Stylists will have to use the contents of the mystery bag to curate one styled look, while upcyclers will take the items from the mystery bag and transform them into their preferred look.

Competition Coordinator Tyran Lovett said the wonderful thing about upcycling is that there aren’t any hard rules.

“That’s what we’re trying to celebrate through The Final Find – the idea that fashion should be accessible and expressive, not intimidating,” he remarks.

He advises upcyclers to start with the garment they like best.

“You don’t need to be an expert with a sewing machine – sometimes the most effective transformations are just re-styling pieces in a fresh way, chopping a hem, dyeing a fabric or even just wearing something differently than it was originally intended.

“One thing we do recommend is looking at pieces for their potential, not what they are. A dress can become a two-piece, a scarf can become a top – it is just about training your eye a little. You don’t need a fashion degree to do that, and you certainly don’t need years of experience. We’ve seen people in our charity shops reimagine things in ways that completely surprise us.”

Anybody interested in buying second hand clothes and reimagining them shouldn’t overthink it.

“We’ve created The Final Find to encourage people who’ve maybe never entered a fashion competition before to just give it a go. We’re asking entrants to create a look that reflects their authentic self, so it’s not about making something flashy or perfect – it’s about making something for you. A lot of people think they’re not ‘fashionable enough’ or that they need 15 years of sewing experience, but we’re trying to shift that mindset.

“Fashion is for everyone. If you care about creativity, sustainability or even just putting a cool outfit together – you can enter. Start by figuring out what makes you feel good.”

Tyran recalls a yellow jumper that he found in the Enable Ireland charity shop on Camden. “The colour was a bit too loud for me, but I liked the shape, so I took a chance on it. I ended up dyeing it black at home and now it’s one of the most worn things in my wardrobe. It’s simple, but that small tweak made it feel like mine.”

A mate of his was heading to a gig and hadn’t sorted an outfit.

“We popped into the shop and he picked up this vintage denim jacket – proper worn-in, but in a good way. He added a few enamel pins and patches from his collection and it just pulled together his whole look. He still wears it and always gets asked where he got it.”

Staff notice there’s always a bit of a clear-out surge around wedding and racing seasons. Another good time is post-Christmas and late summer, when people declutter or make space for seasonal wardrobes. Midweek mornings can be gold – shops are less busy and you often get first pick after new stock hits the floor.

Secondhand shops have never been more popular as people understand the true cost of fast fashion – not just environmentally, but socially. There’s growing awareness of the climate crisis and fashion is one of the most polluting industries in the world.

“In Ireland, we’ve seen a real appetite for circular solutions – especially among Gen Z, who want their clothes to reflect their values. The Final Find taps into that – it’s fun, expressive and impactful.”

Enable Ireland has a shop on High Street in Galway. Prizes include a €500 voucher, a professional photoshoot and media exposure. To enter, visit: enableireland.ie/thefinalfind. Applications to take part must be lodged by Friday, July 18.

Pictured: Enable Ireland, has launched ‘The Final Find’, a new competition celebrating sustainable style and conscious consumption where upcyclers and stylists are urged to face off against each other.