After the US election, congresswoman Cori Bush kicked off a conversation on Twitter about the high cost of acquiring a professional work wardrobe for Washington, saying she was heading to a secondhand shop to stock up.

“The reality of being a regular person going to Congress is that it’s really expensive to get the business clothes I need for the Hill. So I’m going thrift shopping tomorrow,” she wrote.

Bush’s background as a single mother working as a nurse and a pastor means she is building her professional wardrobe from scratch, and the cost of that can be eye-watering.

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Fellow Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez quickly offered support, as did other congresswomen, pointing out that among its other virtues, secondhand clothing was “good for the planet”.

“Thrifting, renting, and patience as you get your closet together sis,” wrote Ocasio-Cortez. “Capsule wardrobe will be your best friend.”

Wearing thrifted clothes in parliament is a practice that has long been embraced thousands of miles away in New Zealand. Watching this exchange on social media, Aotearoa MPs were quick to jump in and share their best thrifted outfits.

Of those who revealed that they had been dressing secondhand for years in the country’s halls of power, many said they had done so through necessity.

Marama Davidson, co-leader of the Green party and minister for family and sexual violence, has been called “the Queen of thrifting” by her colleagues – a title she describes as “fabulous”.

“I have always loved supporting sustainability and local businesses with what I wear. The vast majority of my wardrobe is secondhand, op-shopped or locally sourced,” she told the Guardian.

“During the campaign, I had a team of amazing women from my local neighbourhood who scoured op-shops to find me new clothes for the election trail. It completely transformed my wardrobe.”

“I’ve never been big on buying fast-fashion or anything fancy and expensive, it just isn’t me. I get joy from the op-shopping experience – particularly being able to support local sustainability.”

“Op-shopping”, as it is called in New Zealand, is a popular pastime with secondhand shops in most suburbs and towns, and attached to garbage dumps. Most shops are tied to a charitable organisation…