The Know Daily - Monday 14 April 2025

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Having a pet is linked to increased life satisfaction, according to a new study. Even simply stroking our furry companions can lower stress levels – dogs (and cats) really are a human’s best friend 🐈

👗 Pre-loved purchasing

The secondhand clothing sector is booming in the UK, according to a new study.

Tell me more.
Charity retailer Traid recently released a report surveying the UK’s secondhand shopping habits. 71% of respondents now wear pre-loved clothing – up from 65% from their 2019 survey. 54% of those sourced their clothes from charity shops and 55% preferred scouring online resale platforms. The rising popularity is not just prevalent in the UK, but across the world. The global secondhand market is expected to be worth $350bn by 2027.

What’s behind the rise?
For most, affordability and style were the main motivators to give clothes another lease of life. Across all age groups questioned, 63% said affordability was the most important reason. Sustainability came in at 49% and concerns about ethical production at 41%.

Anything else I should know?
The study also broke down shopping habits by age, showing a pretty stark generational difference. Over 80% of young people (18-to-34 year olds) have a “strong affinity” for wearing pre-loved items, whereas half of those aged 55 or older reported that they’d never bought them. In fact, a third of those aged 18 to 34 said they buy pre-owned garments at least once a month.

Why is it so popular among young people?
Gen Z are drawn to secondhand clothes because it taps into a wider trend of nostalgic clothing from the 90s and 00s, which are harder to find in traditional retailers. While some big brands have tried to capture this by offering vintage collections, thrifting offers the thrill of finding authentic vintage items, and giving new life to clothes that would’ve otherwise been discarded.

Interested in making your wardrobe stylish and sustainable? Check out these helpful resources on how to get thrifting down to a science and score the best finds.

💰 Money Monday: House prices have risen to a record high in the UK, despite recent changes to stamp duty. Here’s what it means for the housing market, according to financial experts.

👩‍🚀 Blasting off: This popstar is heading to space today with an all-female crew.

🏭 Steelworks site: The government took control of British Steel under emergency legislation, in order to keep it operating after US trade tariffs were announced – here are the latest developments.

🤖 Progressive pavilions: World Expo 2025 began in Osaka, Japan – over 160 countries will showcase exhibitions on how to “create a future society for our lives”.

🍄 Funky fungi: Scientists have found the “the most bitter substance known to mankind”.

🎶 Amazing acts: Music festival Coachella kicked off this weekend with plenty of theatrics and surprises – here are the highlights.

🔗 Last week’s most clicked: The postbox of the future, the UK’s first Universal theme park and the cities with the most green spaces.

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Trivia answer: C) Barry Keoghan will play Ringo Starr – check out which actors will portray the other Beatles members in separate biopics here.

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