Ambassador profile: Ruth Jobson (@charityshopping_ruthy)

The second in our series of thrifter ambassador profiles, is Ruth Jobson, who is known as @charityshopping_ruthy on Instagram.

Read more about Ruth, including what she loves about charity shops and her thoughts on how you can switch your habits to buy more second-hand clothing.

What got you interested in pre-loved/secondhand clothes?

When I had my first child I became a single mother and out of necessity I bought everything from furniture to clothing secondhand. I realised there was a way to make things beautiful by using what already existed and my love grew from there.

What do you love about charity shops?

I love the entire community of charity shoppers and staff/volunteers. I have met so many wonderful people through my love of charity shopping and most of the staff in my local town know me now. It has become more than just a way of shopping but something that gives people a sense of togetherness.

Favourite charity shop?

Oooh that's tough, but I love the Severn Hospice Superstore in Castlefields (Shrewsbury) so much. The staff are just lovely and they have a great outlet section which has amazing pricing.

What do you typically shop for in charity shops?

Everything , there's very little I won't buy in a charity shop!

My children wore head to toe charity shop outfits for most of their childhoods and even Christmas gifts were often bought second hand .

Pocket money was spent on a Barbie house and Polly Pockets. Every piece of furniture in my home is from a charity shop except for my bed . If I can buy an item secondhand I absolutely will .

Any purchase that stand-out as being particularly special or memorable?

My favourite finds are normally unique or sentimental . I love finding a book with pressed flowers in it or a note to a loved one. My favourite find is probably one of the first things I bought 24 years ago (which I still have) which was a Dutch handmade table and chairs for £10 for me and my daughter to eat meals at.

Do you get preloved items from anywhere else?

Yes I often shop on Vinted and at car boot sales during the warmer months.

What advice would you have for people who are interested in switching out their shopping habits to buy more secondhand clothing?

Start where you can make little changes and think about whether you could find what it is you want/need secondhand. Use online tools to compare and see if what you want is available (sometimes unworn) on places like Vinted or eBay.

Find the charity shops that work for you, if you find it easier to shop curated and colour coded find the shops that present themselves that way and you won't feel so overwhelmed by choice. Make lists or a Pinterest board of what you want so you can look back and see if things will fit in with your personal aesthetic.

Ultimately the choice is endless when it comes to secondhand and quality isn't compromised in fact it's often improved as older things were built to last.

Why did you decide to become an ambassador for Clothing Collective?

Clothing poverty is something that just shouldn't exist, when you look at the high figures of items that are available on Vinted and the amount of clothing that goes into landfill, no person should have to be without. We would be remiss to think any one of us couldn't be in that position and I believe everyone not only deserves a basic standard of living, but beyond that they deserve choice and comfort.

I believe in community and that grass roots action is where we can do the most good.

If we have a voice we should use it and we should question why people can't access what they need at a basic level when so many have way too much.

What are you hoping you will be able to do as an ambassador for us?

I intend to highlight the great work the charity does to support people in our communities who shouldn't have to go without.

I want people to understand how they can help and why people deserve choice and comfort.

When your basic needs aren't being met it's hard to get anywhere and with the support of charities like clothing collective people have the ability to thrive not just exist and we definitely need more of that in the world.

You can also learn more about Ruth and our other thrifter ambassadors, plus our celebrity friends Dame Prue Leith, Peter Duncan and Nigel Lindsay.

Are you a thrifter/preloved clothing content creator who's active on social media and would like to join our group? Contact us to learn more!