Fashion sustainability advocate Liza Mutch (pictured) is no stranger to expressing her love for op shopping, taking a stand against fast-fashion and getting creative with clothes.

Ms Mutch has been an op-shop regular for years. What started as a scheme to find clothes with a smaller price tag soon turned into a passion and a hobby.

“I’m really passionate about sustainability, but it’s something I find really fun to do at the same time,” she said.

Sustainability runs in her family, with her dad an avid recycler and her mum also a keen op shopper. “It all comes back to the same thing, to try and be sustainable in everything that you do,” she said.

Ms Mutch enjoys expressing herself through fashion and has created a unique wardrobe full of sustainably sourced pieces. She described her style as edgy streetwear with a touch of chic.

Earlier this year, Ms Mutch set herself the challenge to only buy second-hand, upcycled or op shop clothes.

“I wanted to challenge myself to only buy clothes that I actually really liked that could be a statement piece in my wardrobe,” she said. Ms Mutch said the challenge was hard to start with but eased as time went on.

“I feel like I have gotten myself out of the rhythm of buying clothes. I want to be different and I want to stick to my guns,” she said.

Ms Mutch said she always thought of fashion sustainability while shopping. “If I see something extremely cheap I always try to think about the impacts it has down the line of where it’s created and workers not getting paid enough,” she said.

Ms Mutch said other people could help make a difference by being aware of their purchases, considering what they need and what they do not.

In August, Ms Mutch won the Mount Gambier Recycled Runway Competition, which involved up-cycling op shop clothes into a new outfit. She was awarded an Ashlee Lauren scholarship to study a course in Fashion Sustainability.

In her spare time, Ms Mutch enjoys up-cycling and repurposing clothes to give garments another life and encourages people to visit the op shops and see what great bargains they can find.

“Op shopping brings me so much joy, I love it so much. I love the culture of it,” she said.

“Why not be a bit different?” Her top op shopping tips: know what you’re looking for and where to find it, choose your times, find out when they re-stock and be patient, go when you’re in the mood.

Follow Liza on Instagram @lizamutch to see more.