Category: Thrift Stores

There is a saying that says: “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” and boy, is that saying it right when it comes to shopping at secondhand stores. At thrift stores, such as Goodwill and Plato’s Closet, you get to create your own style with clothes that people used to wear. Weather it is a shirt or a sweater, pants or jeans, you can always find something worth having at a thrift store. As a faithful thrift store shopper, also known as “thrifting,” I have noticed that a bunch of fashion from the 90s and early 2000s are back in action and still being worn, and like I said in my 90s nostalgia article, I love my 90s clothing! These 3 things listed below can help you decide what you want to benefit your closet and help unclutter someone else’s!

1. Sweaters

These things are a must! Now that it is getting cold, sweaters are a key accessory to anyone’s closet. There are Christmas sweaters, patch sweaters and baggy sweaters (which are my favorite). The best sweaters in a thrift shop are men sweaters, because they are so darn cozy, especially for smaller women. Sweaters just go great with pretty much everything and you can find one that will fit your personality as well as your style.

2. Dresses

I must admit, sometimes it is hard to find just the right dress at a second-hand store, but when you do, make sure you keep it close. Just like any other store, there is a variety of dresses from short to long, but at an unbeatable price! There are many vintage dresses that are sold at thrift stores that are so adorable you want to purchase it to just look at it. Whichever reason for buying the dress, just know that you will be happy with your sale.

3. Jeans

There are so many type of jeans that you can find in a thrift store it is crazy. Whether you want skinny and distressed or baggy (also known as mom jeans), you can find them right there on the racks! A ton of girls bring back the 90’s look when they get mom jeans, cut them up and turn them into high-waist jeans or shorts. It really shows how some styles will really never die and how these girls think outside of the box with their wardrobe.

At thrift shops, you can turn an original idea into a newly made masterpiece just by picking out a piece of clothing. Making something yours when it belonged to someone else can boost your confidence and maybe even turn you into a fashion queen (or king). These flea markets can turn your closet into a runway once you find the things that fit you. Also, they can put more money in your pocket because they are so inexpensive. In the words of rapper Macklemore”s song Thrift Shop, “I’m gonna pop some tags, only got 20 dollars in my pocket, I’m hunting, looking for a come up, this is freaking awesome.” He knows how cheap it is! So, what are you waiting for? Go on and pop some tags at thrift shop in Panama City Beach, FL.

When I was a kid, I always kicked off a new school year by revamping my wardrobe. I threw out the old jeans that had ripped in the crotch area and donated the “babyish” t-shirts decorated with glitter and ponies to the Goodwill.

Afterward, I always went shopping for new back-to-school outfits with my mom. Except, these outfits weren’t really new — they were someone else’s unwanted clothes. They came from dim, carpeted thrift stores, not the fluorescent lights of Macy’s.

Throughout my childhood, I only ever shopped at thrift stores.

While my friends prided themselves on their designer outfits they’d plucked off the mannequin, I was sifting through the racks of the nearest thrift store. I won’t lie and say I didn’t also want designer clothes, but I didn’t have a choice. My parents lived on a shoe-string budget for most of my childhood, and they didn’t have the money to spend hundreds of dollars on clothing.

If I wanted more than a t-shirt from JCPenney, I had to get creative. I spent a lot of time scouring the local Goodwill for a diamond in the rough. I learned how to put an outfit together — what colors complemented each other, and which ones clashed.

I was a thrift-store diva — the ultimate bargain shopper. If a Prada purse or Burberry blouse managed to find its way to the Goodwill, I knew it. It was in my hands and paid for before anyone else could see it.

As an adult who can finally (sometimes) afford the $30 tops I see in the window, I haven’t been able to kick the habit of shopping at thrift stores. At the end of the day, I still end up at the Goodwill.

But, despite the embarrassment I might’ve had as a pre-teen who didn’t want to be caught dead in someone else’s hand-me-downs, I’ve since realized there are a lot of upsides to shopping in thrift stores.

You never know what you might find

People tend to associate thrift stores with old, unwanted clothing that nobody or their grandmother would be caught dead in. The Goodwill is supposed to be the place that people go when they’ve given up on caring about their appearance.

This isn’t true. Although there is plenty of junk lying around, you’d be surprised just how many designer labels end up on those racks too. The issue isn’t whether or not fashionable thrift store clothing exists, it’s how to find it.

As a kid, I could spend hours in a thrift store searching through racks. Finding a cute designer top took some effort, but it was worth it. I got to wear expensive brands without worrying about the price tag.

As an adult, I still get that same rush. Spotting a $100 dress and paying $8 for it is like finding abandoned money in a parking lot. Not only is the experience satisfying, but there’s no guilt involved.

The only downside is that it does take some effort. You’ll have to sort through a lot of unwanted, stored-in-the-back-of-closets junk before you find something you actually want. Some thrift stores may attempt to organize their haul, but other places will grab everything, put it on the rack, and leave it for you to sift through.

I don’t mind, though — the hunt for hidden treasure is what makes it fun.

Thrifting makes you fashionable

Most people would like to assume they’re fashionable. They can go into a store and pick out a cute outfit easily. However, what a lot of people don’t realize is that our favorite designer stores tend to do the shopping for us.

They arrange the store so that complementary items are close together. It isn’t a coincidence that a purple blouse is right next to a matching pencil skirt. Most of the time, even if you’re picking out the ensemble yourself, the store is still doing half the work.

You might not even realize how undeveloped your fashion sense actually is until you walk into the disarray of a thrift shop. Nobody is going to help you out there.

When you have to sift through unorganized, outdated clothing, you quickly learn what goes well together and what doesn’t. You don’t have a choice — the layout of the store forces you to think for yourself. You realize what items can pass as vintage chic and which ones should be left in the past. You learn which patterns complement each other, and which ones clash.

Thrift stores allowed me to invent my own wacky style. I’m not sure you would call it fashionable, but it works for me. Regardless of what kind of clothing store I’m in, I always know what works for me and what doesn’t.

There’s no shame in thrifting

When I was a teenager, I used to dread the question: “Where did you get that top?”

My friends had good intentions. They expected me to answer with the respectable Macy’s or JCPenney’s. Regardless of how cute my outfit was, I was always too ashamed to admit I’d gotten it from a thrift store. I usually blew them off with the vague, “Oh, this? I’ve had it in my closet for a while.”

To say I got it from a thrift store felt like an admission that I was poor. Well, technically, I wasn’t poor so much as I was lower middle-class (at least, that’s what my mother called it).

Nowadays, when people ask where I acquired my leopard print skirt, I have no shame in admitting it came from a thrift store. Not everyone has the budget or the desire to wear fresh designer garb. Thrift store in Panama City Beach, FL allows you to purchase clothing — outdated or fashionable — at bargain prices. That’s something t celebrate, not look down upon.

I’d be lying if I didn’t say I occasionally popped into a traditional clothing store. There are some items you just can’t find in a thrift store. However, for the most part, I’m a thrifter. I’ll scour the racks of Goodwill and every local second-hand store I can find for a diamond in the rough — and I won’t be ashamed of it. What once was a source of shame for me has since become a way to save money and even have fun as an adult.

I LOVE clothes. Like far too much (if my closet could speak, it would tell you it’s full). As much as I love buying a brand-new outfit, nothing quite beats buying a cute outfit for half the price. I absolutely adore thrift shops, second-hand shops, and consignment stores. Nothing quite like waking up early on Saturday morning to hit up all the local stores and see the fresh goods they put out on the racks. You can find the best things at thrift stores. Honest truth. However, thrift shopping isn’t for the faint of heart. I’ll be the first person to tell you that thrift and consignment shopping takes some skill and patience. That is why I am here to be your friend and give you some tips and tricks for navigating the world of thrifting!

1. Evaluate You. What does that mean, you ask? I mean you need to evaluate your style, your current wardrobe, and what styles inspire you. This step can come with its challenges. Before you start shopping, you need to look at what you have already and what you think you might need. Knowing what you need will ease the feeling of being overwhelmed when you hit the racks. Know your personal style, because style is all about what you feel good wearing. Don’t get caught up in labels and brands. Think about what you like wearing and what you think you pull off well. Now, this next statement might contradict what I just said. Think about the style and fashion that aren’t you or you always consider trying but too afraid to. Yes, you want to be you, but the fun about thrifting is you can really expand yourself and your style.
2. Discipline. Remember everything I just told you before. Do you remember? Make sure you keep all of what you evaluated in the back of your mind when going out shopping. When you finally decide to go out and look, it is so much easier when you have a picture in mind. When you have a set vision, idea, end goal, or look that you want to achieve, it can take out a lot of the pressure. You don’t want to get off the rail and start looking at prom shoes and dresses when you really wanted to look for 90’s vintage mom jeans. It helps to keep discipline when navigating the aisles of thrift shops.
3. Be Picky. This is so crucial. When you pull something off the rack really give it that up and down. Pay attention to every detail of it. Is the material good? Are there any stains? Does it look too worn? Is it something you could potentially fix up or make into something new? Don’t necessarily look at the brand or label. Although, if you get your favorite brand then that is brownie points to you. Keep your mind open, but don’t go crazy and start pulling everything off the rack. If you think it is worth picking up, then follow the next step below.
4. TRY IT ON! I’ll say it again for the people in the back… TRY IT ON! Ladies and gentlemen, I can’t stress this enough. I will be honest here. I hate trying on clothes. I hate putting piece after piece on. It gets tiring and frustrating sometimes. However, you can’t just purchase the things you found without trying them on. Trying things on is worth the time and hassle. This is the time that you get to picture yourself actually wearing this and keeping it in your wardrobe. You might pick up on some flaws that you didn’t catch when you were initially examining the item. You need to be completely honest with yourself during this stage. If you feel even the slightest bit iffy about the piece, then put it back. You need to feel confident and comfortable in it.

Thrift shopping at thrift shop in Panama City Beach, FL can be so much fun. It takes a little bit of time, patience and practice. In the end, it is rewarding and you can really find the best things. Take the time to really find yourself when you are thrift shopping. Happy shopping!

I like thrift stores. I like browsing through lots of different items and trying to find a good deal.

In case you didn’t know, I actually used to work at a secondhand clothing shop called Plato’s Closet, which is a clothing chain that buys and sells gently used clothing for young adults. I worked there for many years, starting as a sales associate and eventually becoming a manager. Due to working for several years at a secondhand shop, I love a good deal, and it’s still hard for me to pay full price for clothing. We saw lots of high-quality clothing and brand name accessories coming in and being sold for a fraction of the price you would see at a traditional retail store.

Buying secondhand doesn’t just save you a ton of money, it prevents waste and lessens the number of things piling up in landfills.

I think we are all aware that we are throwing things into landfills at alarming rates, and shopping secondhand can be one of many ways to make a difference.

However, that’s not how some people see shopping at thrift stores, especially if you have a high income.

I have actually been told that I shouldn’t shop at thrift stores or use discounts (such as coupons), because those are only for “poor people.”

I have been told that by shopping at a thrift store, I am taking items that people with less money could have bought and used.

I’ve also heard that people who shop at thrift stores in order to flip items for a higher profit are “evil.”

Other comments I’ve heard about shopping at thrift stores include (these are all direct quotes):

• “Why donate if it’s not going to poor people?”
• “A person isn’t actually wealthy if they shop at Goodwill.”
• “Shopping at thrift stores is for people who can’t afford clothes.”
• “The wealthy shouldn’t be allowed to save money. They should leave it for the less fortunate.”

Personally, I believe that thrift stores and discounts are for anyone to use. Of course, everyone is allowed to have their own opinion, but I would bet that those people don’t really understand the positives of purchasing secondhand or the missions that non-profit secondhand stores have.

Everyone is allowed to save money.

Seriously, every single person should be able to save money if they want. Everyone, period.

Do I need to say it again?

People who think that the wealthy shouldn’t be allowed to save money are just nuts in my opinion.

Plus, as you’ll read below, thrift stores serve many other purposes, such as preventing an overwhelming amount of waste clogging landfills and furthering a thrift store’s mission to help charities and their community.

Thrift stores are usually bursting at the seams with new things to put out, meaning there is no shortage of things to buy.

Thrift stores can save a person a lot of money, and who is to say who can and cannot save money?

The wealthy are wealthy for a reason- many of them know how to manage their money correctly. And, this may include shopping at thrift stores and using discounts/coupons. Many look for realistic ways to save money because they don’t like to waste money if they can prevent it.

After all, you’ll never be wealthy if you spend it all.

There are many ways to save money and grow your wealth, and shopping secondhand can be a small step in gaining financial freedom.

It’s environmentally responsible to shop at thrift stores.

Thrift stores usually have an overwhelming number of things. It’s not like you are going to buy 100% of the items in the store – they have thousands upon thousands of items to sell.

When you purchase something secondhand, you are keeping one more item out of a landfill.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 15.1 million tons of textile waste was product in 2013, with around 85% of that going to landfills.

According to Down To Earth Materials, the estimated decomposition time for clothing and other items are:

• Leather shoes: 25-40 years
• Nylon clothes: 30-40 years
• Cotton: 1-5 months
• Tin can: around 50 years
• Plastic bottles: 70-450 years

As you can see, the clothing we wear and other household items we use can have a big environmental impact. By purchasing secondhand clothing and items, we can lower the amount of waste we put into landfills and help the environment well into the future.

With more people shopping at thrift stores, there are even more items that are getting a second “life” and even fewer items ending up in landfills.

Can you just imagine how crazy landfills would be if certain people weren’t allowed to shop at thrift stores? There would be so much trash everywhere!

There’s enough for everyone at a thrift store.

For the most part, buying a t-shirt at Goodwill or Salvation Army isn’t going to negatively impact anyone – they have plenty of everything there. In some places, they are actually turning away donations because they have TOO MUCH STUFF.

When we donated about 99% of our belongings to move into the RV, we took a lot of our things to thrift stores, but, surprisingly, a lot of our belongings were rejected because they had too much stuff or too many of a specific item. We actually had to hunt for places that would take some of our stuff.

Most of the things that are sold at thrift shops aren’t going to be life or death for anyone – it’s just stuff, which may be hard for many people to realize now, but it is the truth.

There is plenty for everyone and thrift stores won’t be running out of basic household items and clothing anytime soon.

So, the belief that “rich people are taking away items from the less fortunate” is not realistic – because there’s plenty of stuff for everyone. Like I said, thrift stores are bursting with so much stuff that they are turning donations away!

Your money is helping the thrift store’s mission.

Thrift stores like Goodwill and Salvation Army exist so that they can make money and put that money towards the charities they support.

So, more people shopping at these thrift stores can help further their mission of helping the community.

For example, with the money Goodwill makes through selling items at its stores and through donations, they were able to place more than 313,000 people into employment in just 2016. It’s possible that if you took away some of their customer base, they may not have been able to help as many people. They even state on their website:

“When you donate your new and gently used items to Goodwill®, we sell them in our stores or on our online auction site and use the revenue generated to fund valuable employment training and job placement services for people in your community.”

For many non-profit thrift stores, their mission actually isn’t to solely sell clothes at low prices. Instead, their mission is to further improve the community and the people in it. To do that, they need funds, and they raise funds by selling donated items.

So, the people who shop at thrift store in Panama City Beach, FL save their money and it also helps in controlling wastage.

Ugh. That thrift store smell. If you’ve ever been to Goodwill or even a trendy consignment boutique, then you know the dank, moth-ball tinged odor well. It’s the only drawback to the otherwise euphoric experience of finding that perfect vintage top or rugged jacket that will be a staple of your wardrobe for years to come. Unlike many capitalist institutions, the Millennials haven’t managed to “kill” thrift stores. In fact, the generation and their Gen Z compatriots are ushering in a new era of thrifting. Recommerce (or “reverse commerce”) is the future of fashion. It represents the digitization of second-hand or thrift stores. The model gives second life to used or out of season goods through ecommerce supply chains. The thrill of the chase remains, augmented by data about the full life cycle of garments and a sense of corporate responsibility that comes from the reduced waste of recycled clothing. This is especially important for an industry as notorious for waste as the fashion industry, where over 16 million tons of textiles go to landfills in the US every year. Recommerce is the rare business model that achieves the triple-bottom line. The approach is profitable for businesses taking part, avoids any exploitation of laborers, and helps the environment through reduced waste.

While shopping at Haven House Thrift Stores is nothing new, some emerging trends among young shoppers have accelerated the proliferation of recommerce operations:

• Younger consumers are pushing retailers to be more responsible for their impact on the environment. As fashion customers grow increasingly knowledgeable about the impact of their consumption on the world, they have greater desire to shop with brands that share their concerns. While some seek brands with plans in place to reduce their carbon footprint by selling garments made with recycled materials, others turn to the resale market. Second-hand goods sales have the least impact on the environment since they require no further processing or use of additional materials. In fact, if every piece of apparel were eventually part of the resale market, global emissions from the fashion industry could be reduced by 73%.
• Interest in the side gig economy also propels the resale market. The allure of making big bucks as a reseller on Poshmark, Grailed, and other second hand market places draws people in to the industry as active participants. In an era of fast fashion, consumers still recognize the value of staying power. Sellers of second-hand goods have chosen to tap into that value for themselves, thus creating a market dynamic similar to that of ride-hailing services. More sellers encourage more buyers in the marketplace, and vice versa.
• And finally, never underestimate the allure of “flexing for the ‘Gram” or portraying a lifestyle on social media (Instagram or elsewhere) that is more lavish and luxe than reality. Some young people refuse to even be photographed twice in the same attire. This propensity for poshness certainly adds up. Buying second hand clothes at steep discounts allows them to keep living this (perceived) life of luxury. Others simply see recommerce as their opportunity to sample luxury goods that would otherwise be beyond their usual price points for apparel purchases.

For much of the history of fashion retailing, the industry has taken a linear approach. Materials are sourced. Apparel is designed. It is then sold to consumers. Whatever happens after that has been immaterial to clothing brands. Armed with the digital tools of ecommerce, intrepid direct to consumer (DTC) startups have seized on the market opportunity to bring circularity to the fashion industry. Circularity in business is the concept in which materials are continuously reused, in a way that creates new value and reduces or eliminates the waste going to landfills. Not surprisingly, agile DTC startups are the dominant players in the recommerce market. Automation of inventory SKU and detail processing, apps that personalize the apparel assortment by shopper preference, and algorithms sorting through all the data to better inform retailers are key technologies of the recommerce revolution. The businesses involved have found ways to simplify the messy process of physically sorting through stacks of used clothes (there’s that smell again) and moved the experience online. Now customers get email alerts or push notifications when their favorite brands are in stock or a cashmere sweater in their size arrives.

These brands are successfully using technology to enhance the experience of thrifting and capitalize off the excitement of buzz worthy new releases. Grailed is a second-hand marketplace for mens designer apparel and footwear. Buyers can find gently used luxury threads without breaking the bank or breaking a sweat rifling through mounds of clothes. ThredUp caters to women and has a more mass market approach to its assortment. Thus, the service bills itself as the largest online consignment & thrift store. But Poshmark remains the market pleader in brand recognition for online second-hand marketplaces. While each brand has a different approach the market, they all succeed by bringing convenience to the experience for customers by combining the logistics approach of ecommerce with the thrill of thrifting. The upstarts have a sizable lead in this market, but why should digitally native brands have all the fun?

The traditional retailers are primed to steal away recommerce marketshare from their more agile and focused competitors in. They may be laggards, but with the right digital toolset and partnerships, legacy brands can leapfrog/catch up to their burgeoning competitors. The second-hand markets only exist in the first place because of the value of the brands that are being sold. Instead of allowing others to benefit from that tertiary value, branded manufacturers are beginning to enter the resale market themselves.

Yerdle has emerged as a key partner for brands entering the resale market. The business partners with retail brands to create recommerce sites. The brands typically offer customers discounts or vouchers for returning their unused or defective items. Yerdle handles the collection, sales channel, and data analytics of the white label operation. This creates an additional revenue channel for brands and offers them advanced analytics about the common ways in which their garments break down. The Renewal Workshop builds upon this approach by actually repairing damaged goods. This allows brands to reclaim even more items that would otherwise go to the landfill. Finished apparel leaves the Renewal Workshop with co branded tags to let consumers know the product has been refurbished. The products are offered on recommerce sites for discounted prices. Brands can use this channel to reach new customers that shop at a different price point from their traditional market. Thus far, Yerdle and The Renewal Workshop have worked with outdoors brands like REI, Patagonia, and The Northface. But designer fashion brands Mara Hoffman and Stella McCartney have also taken advantage of the resale market with strategic partnerships.

As the resale market continues to mature, established fashion brands have a growing variety of options for ways to enter he market themselves. Brands can work with resellers (Poshmark, TheRealReal, eBay) to create customized presences on their reselling platforms. Or partner with white label services (Yerdle, The Renewal Workshop) to set up their own recommerce websites with more brand control. The resale operation can also be brought in house. This allows brands to completely to control the entire experience and extract as much data as possible from the process.

Recommerce combines environmentally friendly business practices with enhanced analytics about the full life cycle of apparel products. With sales of $24 billion in 2018, the secondhand market is well established. And with projected growth to over $50 billion in the next five years, all retailers have the financial incentive to participate in the market. Even the first family of reality TV has jumped into the fray with the launch of their Kardashian Kloset recommerce website. No matter the approach they take to entering the resale market, retailers must have the appropriate infrastructure in place. Offering non-traditional goods via ecommerce calls for agile product labeling systems and fulfillment processes. Looking to the future of this space, the companies that master visual search will have even greater competitive advantage in their ability to effectively capture value for secondhand apparel. As model names or styles change over the years, having visual search that can match vintage gear with current trends provides customers with an integral link in their shopping experiences for secondhand clothes that fit the modern wardrobe. And, thankfully, this can all be done without encountering the thrift store smell. The future of fashion beckons.

While thrift shopping is a prime way to play treasure hunt and score unique finds, it has another remarkable advantage: It’s a great way to lighten your carbon footprint.

Secondhand stores are not only a stomping ground for killer deals and one-of-a-kind clothing, but also a refuge for countless items from landing in a garbage heap. Value Village, for example, saves more than 650 million pounds of clothing from landfills each year, making it one of the largest recyclers of used garments in the world. Their stores give a second life to 1.8 million pounds of clothes every day, which is equivalent to 600 mid-sized cars. Almost 100 percent of clothing and textiles are recyclable, yet 85 percent of it ends up in landfills. It’s estimated that the average person throws away 70 pounds of clothing a year.

Lindsay Coulter is the so-called “Queen of Green” with the David Suzuki Foundation, educating people on how to live a greener life by making changes around the house. She says that donating and shopping at thrift stores is an excellent way to exercise all three of the three R’s: reduce, reuse and recycle. “Thrifting is a great way to add to your repertoire of shopping before you consider buying something new,” she says. “Whether it’s a purse or a pair of shoes, it’s really worth considering going to thrift stores as another point of contact to help reduce your consumption.”

Coulter points out that since landfills are airtight, textiles take longer to break down. “I’d imagine things like an old towel, a rag or an old t-shirt will last a really long time,” she says. Polyester, spandex, nylon, and rayon are all considered non-biodegradable fabrics. Though they eventually decompose, it may take between 20 to 200 years to fully biodegrade these textiles. Coulter points out that the beauty of thrift shopping is that the supply is never-ending. Stock is constantly replenished, so if you don’t find what you’re looking for one day, it’s likely to show up in no time. “There’s always something new that you might not have discovered before,” she says.

Thrift shops also hold endless potential when it comes to DIY projects. They have countless items that can be repurposed, with the help of a tailor if need be, to make a completely new and unique piece of clothing on the cheap. “The possibilities are endless,” says Coulter. “It really allows you to use your creativity.”

One person who knows this quite well is Jodi Jacyk, costume specialist in the theatre and film department at the University of British Columbia. She says the majority of items for the university’s productions are purchased second-hand. Because of her shrinking budget, items like clothing and shoes are thrifted from Value Village. “We are constantly thrifting and we re-use costumes for many years. Some of them are 30 years old,” she says. The department often buys women’s blouses to repurpose into period pieces. “Thrift shopping is a much easier, cheaper way to do things,” she says. “If you’re putting on a show that’s set in the 1970s, vintage shopping is really the only way to go.”

The next time you need to lighten your closet – or just reinvent your look – take the opportunity to go Haven House Thrift Stores for shopping to lighten both your carbon footprint and your financial burden at the same time.

Thrift shopping at second-hand stores, consignment shops, rummage sales and online used-good directories is not just for environmentalists and hipsters, but a viable solution for anyone looking to go eco-friendly in small ways.

Before going into the green benefits, here’s how thrifting helps you:

• Saving Money – Thrifted clothing is far more affordable than new clothes of comparable quality.
• Smarter Buys – You tend to spend more time looking over each item instead of buying it outright.
• Unique Finds – It’s highly unlikely that anyone else is walking around in the same clothes as you.
• Creative Potential – You might be inspired to try new combinations, or even some DIY reconstruction!

If that wasn’t enough, here are 7 ways in which thrifting helps the environment:

1. It Lowers Your Carbon Footprint – A lot of energy goes into clothing manufacture, right from the transportation of raw materials to production processes. Then, there’s the energy required to get finished clothing to stores, and dispose of unwanted items. When you buy secondhand, you’re preventing wastage of energy and resources on the production of new clothes.

2. It Aids in Water Preservation – In addition to energy, water consumption is extremely high at every stage of clothing production. For instance, growing one kilogram of cotton requires 5,300 gallons of water, while wet processing and printing use 18 and 21.6 gallons respectively, per pound of cotton. Manufacturing, packaging and transportation processes add to this cost as well.

3. It Reduces Chemical Pollution – The production of cotton is highly pesticide-intensive, causing soil acidification and water contamination. Textile manufacturing processes also involve the use of harmful dyes, caustic soda and crude oil by-products. These chemicals are generally dumped into areas around manufacturing units, contaminating surface and ground water through soil runoff.

4. It Decreases Landfill Waste – Americans throw out anywhere from 60 to over 80 pounds of textile waste annually, and only about 10% of this makes it to thrift stores. If more people start shopping for secondhand clothes, less fabric ends up being dumped in landfills. That’s not all. Packaging material is also reduced, keeping plastic, paper and metal out of the waste stream.

5. It Inspires Green Living – Thrifting is an essential part of green living, in more than one way. When you buy used items, you keep them from being sent to a landfill and reduce manufacturing demand as well. Also, by donating unwanted clothes to consignment shops or thrift stores, you may be encouraging others simply by giving them something they can use.

6. It Boosts Community Development – While shopping secondhand, your money is used to help local charities and businesses instead of multinational corporations. Thrift stores provide employment in retail outlets as well as donation centers, creating more jobs and boosting the local economy. Many hire disabled workers and donate proceeds to community programming projects as well.

7. It Encourages Recycling – Did you know that recycled cotton clothing uses less than 3% of the energy that would have gone into producing new clothes? When you reuse or recycle clothes, you’re decreasing the demand for production and encouraging sustainable practices. It may not seem like much, but every item that doesn’t end up in a landfill counts as a win!

You can find just about anything you’re looking for at Haven House thrift stores. You can find limited edition collectibles, retro electronics and even books signed by your favorite authors in some cases. For more just drop your comments.

Thrift shopping can be intimidating if you don’t know what to look for. I used to always see girls finding incredible pieces at places like Goodwill and the Salvation Army. I, on the other hand, was finding windbreakers and high school spirit shirts from 2002.

Now?

When I go thrift shopping I’m confident that I’ll find cool pieces that fit well or can be DIY’d. It took me time to figure out, but I wanted to minimize the learning curve and give you my tips.

But first…

Why thrift shop? 

A lot of people think that thrift shopping is overrated, or something you “have” to do based on your financial situation. The truth is that there are so many benefits of thrift shopping that extend beyond yourself. 

1. Thrift shopping is good for the world: fast fashion brands like Forever 21 and H&M use cheap materials and cheap labor to quickly produce that season’s trends. Often that means the clothes you buy will only last a year or two at best before hitting a landfill. Even worse? It means that you may be inadvertadly supporting child labor, cruel work conditions, or unfair wages. 
2. Thrift shopping puts money back into the community: When you’re shopping at places like the Salvation Army, that money is used to do good in your community. When you’re shopping at Zara, that money is lining the pockets of anonymous faces. 
3. Thrift shopping saves you money: My boyfriend calls me “Miss Stingy Pants” when my spending habits come up, but that’s the way I like it. I don’t want to drop $150 on a sweater when I can get 6 at the thrift shop for $20. That mindset has allowed me to build a savings account, emergency fund, and invest in the stock market. Building my savings account is more important to me than building my wardrobe.
4. Thrift shopping allows you to shop sustainably no matter your budget. With so much noise about the issues surrounding fast fashion, some people take it to the next level and shame people who aren’t shopping at places like Reformation or Madewell. They fail to acknowle that not everyone can. If you’re trying to be an environmental superhero, but are on a sidekick budget, you can do your part by thrifting instead of buying new. 
5. Thrift shopping helps you establish your sense of style. If you’re only shopping fast fashion, you’re only shopping trendy pieces. At the thrift shop, the selection is eclectic and you’ll be drawn only to what fits your fashion sense. I’ve found a lot of people don’t even know what their sense of style is until they quit fast fashion.

Thrift shopping tips 

Shop near wealthy communities

If you’re after expensive, brand name items consider heading to a thrift shop located near an affluent area. My closest Goodwill carries a lot of Old Navy and American Eagle denim, for example. But if I cross the river and shop in Bettendorf, I can pretty much guarantee the racks will have at least a few pairs of Hudson or Paige jeans.

Personally, I’m usually not necessarily after super expensive brands. If I have a wedding to go to or a fancy event, I usually have better luck finding a formal dress at the wealthy neighborhood’s thrift shops, too.

I don’t know how the other half lives, but based on their Goodwills, I can only guess there are galas and balls galore. My local Goodwill carries plenty of sundresses and t-shirt dresses, but I rarely find a formal dress there. 

Shop the men’s section for high waisted denim

I can’t remember the last time I bought thrifted denim from the women’s section. Normally, I’m after vintage-y looking distressed denim that I can either wear as boyfriend jeans or cut off into shorts. 

More often than not, the denim in the women’s section is stretch (aka won’t make cute cutoffs) or is skinny, and my skinny jean collection is already out of control.

The men’s section, on the other hand, is full of nice, sturdy denim. Their jeans look great as is and are also the perfect candidate for a little chop chop. 

Pro tip: The inseam doesn’t matter! As long as the waist/thigh/booty area fits, you should be good to. You can turn them into shorts, or cut the cuff off for a casual, undone look. If you want to keep the cuff and don’t trust your DIY skills, you can take it to a tailor.

Look with your fingers, not your eyes (sometimes) 

I forget where I learned this tip, but it’s been a game changer for me. If you find yourself at the thrift store but not actually looking for anything in particular, a fun way to find hidden gems is to walk up the rows running your fingers across the garments. 

When you feel a unique texture or fabric, or one that feels high quality take a look! I’ve found a handful of silk tops and cardigans doing this, as well as my favorite basic tee. Items that don’t necessarily look remarkable hanging, may very well be very special once you try it on. 

Once you’ve got the hang of this strategy, it almost feels like a sixth sense helping you find hidden gems among the clutter. 

Try everything on

It’s very rare for me to leave the thrift shop without trying everything on. I love some things on the hanger but they just don’t fit me quite right. I’ll also pick up unique pieces that I’m not sure how I feel about, and it’s hard to get a sense if I like them or not until I try them on.

Fast fashion chains are curated to be trendy and fit you well enough because their pieces are usually thin and stretchy. When you’re thrifting the fit will be hit and miss, and sizing is all over the place.

If your thrift shop doesn’t have dressing rooms, consider wearing skin tight clothes you can try things on over them. This isn’t a perfect strategy, but it’s better than nothing. 

Consider tailoring your finds

Usually most things at thrift stores are steals so if you find the perfect piece that doesn’t fit you just right you can take it to the tailor. Whether you need to shorten a hem or bring in a waist, the tailor quite literally makes sure clothes look like they were made for you.

Getting clothes tailored often isn’t that expensive, either. Normally I DIY my tailoring but the few things I have gotten tailored have cost less than $20 each. 

Don’t be too loyal to any one thrift store

I try to rotate through my local thrift stores, often hitting up several in a day. If you’re always going to the same thrift store, you’re missing out on so many great finds. I like to go to The Family Store to look for vintage Levi’s, whereas I have better luck finding cute tops at Goodwill.

If I’m on the hunt for something specific, I’ll usually hit up 3-4 thrift shops on my hunt.

Don’t buy things just because they’re cheap

When I started diving into the world of thrifting, I’d buy expensive things just because they were selling for cheap. It was exciting to say, “This was originally $108 and I got it for $9!”

The problem is, these pieces weren’t necessarily my style. I would have never considered wanting them at full price, but I’d get excited and impulse buy. They sat in my closet for 6 months before I’d donate them again.

Now when I’m thrifting I’m a lot more considerate of what I already have, what I can wear pieces with, and if it’s something I really want. I try to keep my wardrobe small and curated, which means resisting the temptation to buy things just because. 

Disclaimers

Don’t beat yourself up if you’re not 100% sustainable when it comes to shopping – I’m definitely not. My goal is to always make sure my decisions are having a net positive in the world. Forgot my reusable cup at Dunkin? I’ll pick up a few pieces of trash in my parking lot and make sure to recycle them. Can’t find the perfect event dress at a thrift shop? I’ll buy a pricier but sustainable new piece. Do you want to explore unique crafts and home goods? Visit Haven House Thrift Stores to get the desired goods at one place.