Jannich Kofoed

Jannich has been dealing in secondhand goods for more than 35 years. Whether his career has taken him to the Middle East as a correspondent or led him behind the thick walls of Christiansborg Palace, secondhand goods have been a faithful companion. Although he sees it as an ethical obligation to take care of the earth's resources, it is first and foremost the good style that has created his love for secondhand goods.

I have been buying secondhand for more than 35 years

"I discovered secondhand when I started wearing a jacket and tie 35-40 years ago. The biggest advantage is that you can build yourself up - find your own style. You can get things that you can't go out and find new.

"I'm not extremely vain, but I like to develop my own style - combining different materials such as cotton, tweed and wool, and putting old with new. I have maybe more than 150 ties - all bought second-hand, several of which date back to the 1930s."

Being well-dressed is a prerequisite for my self-confidence.

"For example, if I've left without a belt, my day is a little worse. Being well-dressed is a prerequisite for my self-confidence. In general, I believe that making an effort to be a little well-dressed is a way of showing respect for other people - that they shouldn't just take you for who you are, but that you want to make an extra effort to make an impression.

"I work at Christiansborg Palace every day, where it is expected that you have made a bit of a fuss about your attire. But back in the 90s, when I worked as a correspondent for DR in the Arab countries, I found out that you were treated with more respect when you were wearing a jacket and tie."

Secondhand as an ethical obligation

"My motivation for buying secondhand is not to save the planet or humanity in that way, but I do have an ethical approach to it, like when I turn off the lights when I leave a room and don't use more kitchen roll than I need. I want to be gentle with the earth's resources - that's how I feel about clothes too."

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