Why Thrift?
One of the many solutions to combat the environmental issues that come with fast fashion would be enforcing thrifting and buying second hand clothing. The hunt to find affordable clothes that fit and are stylish/on trend can unexpectedly be solved every time an individual walks into a thrift store. Not only is the activity fun and on trend, individuals are able to save a large amount of money because of it.
In my personal experience I was able to find name brand items like Calvin Klein Michael Kors at a fraction of the cost sold by the massive fast fashion retailers. While an average pair of brand-new Levi’s straight leg denim jeans are around fifty dollars, many people can find the same pair of jeans in great condition for around six to twenty dollars at a thrift store. Not only are people finding great styles at low costs, they are unknowing contributing to the welfare of the environment since “about 90 percent of the cotton grown for textiles is genetically modified, which means it is heavily reliant on pesticides. In fact, almost 20 percent of these pesticides used worldwide are used on cotton plants. These chemicals contaminate nearby water supplies and acidify the soil” (Leon). This is a fraction of the pollution effects as a result of the garment making industry; creating textiles and fabrics, assembling the garment, product destruction etc, are all processes of fast fashion brands that contribute to polluting our Earth but are yet contributing to our current style trends as we speak.
With the trend of thrifting pushing people of all social classes to the thrift stores, it prompts the dissociation of thrifting from being a “poor man’s” activity which acts against social class stigma. A millennial blogger, Alisha Ashford, directly mentions how “stores like Urban Outfitters sell clothing that imitates these decades, but it’s far more inexpensive to purchase these styles at thrift stores” in response to the rising popularity of vintage styles(“Through her eyes”). Within this quote she is highlighting how fast fashion stores are noticably selling clothing that mimic the vintage styles. Since these stores are basically over pricing vintage clothing you can get at the thrift store, people of all social classes can be seen shopping for the same aesthetic at these discount stores.
Although thrifting should be supported as a growing trend we need to keep in mind that, for others it’s a way of surviving and putting clothes on their family’s back. Oftentimes people will buy an oversized shirt or buy an undersized kid’s shirt and wear it as a crop top to make certain fashion statements. That oversized shirt could have been one of the very few things in that store that fit a plus sized person and those kids clothes that aren’t meant to be worn as crop tops could have been the only kids items in the store for those that cannot afford to shop fast fashion. This is directly supported in the Salvation Army’s thrifting tips as it mentions “Setting a limit will help you budget yourself and keep in check what you’re purchasing. When I was first venturing into the second-hand scene, I came home with piles and piles of new clothes — many of which ended up back at the donation center. Having an idea of what you’re willing to spend and (loosely) what you’re looking for will save you the hassle of over-stuffing your closet with unnecessary clothing” (Alejo). By taking the time to note this the Salvation Army, a popular thrifting center, felt the need to address this as they are witnessing the effects of the growing trend on the less fortunate.This is also seen in the graph below
As you can see the resale value on clothing is growing exponentially due to the recent popularity. People are not only thrifting clothing to stay on trend but to benefit by reselling popular items they find at a low cost. Although we are greatly helping the earth when we reuse clothing, it is important to be mindful of the unfortunate.
