Posted May 30, 2017 10:20:53

Photo: Leah Musch uses second-hand clothing to create her wardrobe of latest styles. (ABC Radio Brisbane: Jessica Hinchliffe)

While many young Australians just reach for what's on the rack at their favourite fashion stores, one twenty-something upcycles second-hand clothes to stay on trend.

Leah Musch began sharing her adventures of being a conscious fashion consumer on social media as The Un-Material Girl.

She now has more than 3,000 followers on Instagram.

Her alter ego was born after she went on an eye-opening volunteering trip to Brazil and saw The True Cost, a documentary showing the impact the fashion industry has on the people who make clothes.

"It changed the whole way that I looked at the fashion industry," Ms Musch said.

"I knew I had to change everything I was doing.

"I was a fast fashion addict, I was spending more than $100 a week on clothes ... it was endless."

Ms Musch came back and sold 80 per cent of her wardrobe.

Her war cry became: "Don't add to the pile."

"I now challenge myself to sew the things I want to buy or refashion second-hand clothes I buy."

She shares her tips and tricks with fellow fashion lovers via social media.

"I think my biggest strength is being able to turn something ugly into something cool.

"I don't know if I'll ever feel comfortable with the fact that the fashion industry at its heart is unsustainable; I wanted to find ways to do the best I can and share it with others.

"I know I can shop and spend less and find more interesting pieces going to markets, rather than going to a store, and then I won't find someone with the same thing."

She swears by the 333 concept, in which people have 33 items in their wardrobe on rotation for three months.

"Many of us go back to wearing the same thing so just let the other clothes go."

She also suggests thinking twice before buying something new by asking questions such as: Do I need this? Would I wear this more than 30 times?

Photo: Leah Musch aims to create sustainable fashion often with second-hand material. (ABC Radio Brisbane: Jessica Hinchliffe)

Ms Musch, who is a student at Billy Blue College of Design in Brisbane, will soon travel to Stockholm and Milan to continue her fashion studies.

"It's a controversial thing to be sustainable in the fashion industry.

"I still come up against battles, but I'm going to try and learn as much as I can.

"I love exploring sustainable and ethical fashion and I hope that it could possibly lead to a potential label."

Topics: fashion, recycling-and-waste-management, art-and-design, people, human-interest, brisbane-4000