Tag: Thrift Stores

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Three Reasons Why Thrifting is Better for the Environment

Three Reasons Why Thrifting is Better for the Environment

Thrifting or shopping secondhand is a great way to reduce your environmental footprint while finding some really cool and unique items that you wouldn’t be able to get elsewhere.

Buying items brand new might not seem like it has a very big impact on the environment, but every small action counts. By shopping for things second hand, you are voting with your dollar as a consumer to not support the industries that cause pollution and tons of waste.

Here are some of the many reasons why thrifting is better than buying new items. 

1) Less Resource Consumption

The creation of new things takes a lot of resources, especially in today’s world of fast fashion and hyper-consumerism. Some of these natural resources are being used at a rate that is faster than they can be produced and are non-renewable.

When it comes to clothing, electronics, and other home goods, it takes a lot of water and energy to make these items. When you thrift something, you are not directly supporting the demand for new things to be made, and this has a positive impact since resources and energy were already used to create that item.

Specific to clothing and textiles, less fabric is wasted, and the water footprint of an item becomes less since the life of the item is extended. 

2) Fewer Things are Thrown Away

Not only are we using fewer resources when we thrift something, but overall, less things are thrown away as well. Shopping second hand is a great way to give a new home to some awesome items that would otherwise end up in the trash. 

In today’s society of consumerism, people often buy things without realizing they don’t really need them, and with items that are cheap and accessible people tend to throw them away.

To help lessen the impact that this has on the environment, you can choose to donate things instead of tossing them and consider looking for an item secondhand next time you need something.

 One thing might not serve the person that originally bought the item, but maybe it’s an item you’ve been looking to have or something that goes great in your home. With thrifting, you keep these items from going to waste by giving them a new life. 

3) Less Chemical Pollution

It takes a lot of manufacturing and processing to be able to create new things. When it comes to clothing, textiles need to be grown using pesticides, and then those fabrics are treated with harsh chemicals and dyes that can be not only harmful to the environment but also to our health.

When we create synthetic fabrics, greenhouse gases are released which contribute to climate change. These chemicals contaminate our water, soil, and air, and this can impact wildlife and the quality of many resources we use to survive.

Toxins can also disrupt our hormones and gut microbiome, and there’s still research to be uncovered as to how these chemicals can impact our bodies.

By choosing to buy secondhand, you aren’t supporting the demand for new products to be made using these chemicals, and the negative impact the item has on your health can also be much less compared to buying the item brand new.

These are just a few of the reasons why shopping second hand is beneficial for the environment. Whether you find something new with the tags on it still or a preloved vintage item, you are choosing an option that didn’t involve new resource and energy consumption, potentially saving something from being thrown into a landfill, and lessening the burden of pollutants on the environment that come from consumerism. 

Shopping at the thrift stores in Lebanon, TN are a great way to find some pre-loved pieces that still have a lot of life in them. The beauty of thrifting is that you never know what you are going to find!

Whether you are donating your unwanted items, looking for something specific, or just seeing what is out there, thrift stores are a great resource to find cool items while saving money and the planet.  

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Is Shopping Second Hand Sustainable?

Is Shopping Second Hand Sustainable?

The number of items purchased every year has doubled in the last 15 years. They’re buying more and more clothing, and they’re also throwing away a lot of these purchases, with 84% of clothing ending up in landfills or incinerators.

It’s a shocking number, and it’s not sustainable. They can’t go on buying new items at this rate, and finding ways to get more use out of each piece in our wardrobes is crucial if they want to reduce the impact of our fashion choices on the planet.

Brands need to change the ways clothes are made so they are more durable or recyclable, but they, consumers and citizens, also have an essential role to play. By changing the way they consume, voting with our dollar, and choosing better brands and practices, they can push the whole industry forward.

Shopping second hand is said to be one of the things they can do to reduce the footprint of our wardrobes. But is shopping second hand sustainable? Today, they look at the rise, impact, and issues linked to shopping pre-owned clothing.

The rise of second hand shopping

Many people saw secondhand clothing as dirty, old, dull, and frankly unattractive for a long time. People thought that going to the thrift shops in Lebanon, TN, op shop, or flea market meant you had to spend hours, even days, dutifully digging through piles of discarded clothes in the hopes of finding one good piece that would hopefully be the correct size.

But things have changed. Shopping second hand is becoming easier and more accessible than ever, and as a result, the resale market is booming. Resale platform thredUP predicts online thrifting will grow 69% between 2019 and 2021, and some even believe that the resale sector will be bigger than fast fashion within ten years.

Today, with people being more worried about the planet and their finances than ever, they will likely turn to their local second hand shops or resale websites. These sites like Depop, The Real Real, or Vestiaire Collective have truly revolutionised the way they think about second hand.

While some experts worried the pandemic would negatively impact the resale sector due to consumers being worried about hygiene, the contrary happened. 

People found more time to clean out their wardrobes! Retailers are noticing this growing trend, and many are seizing the second hand opportunity, which began to sell second hand clothes in its supermarkets just a couple of weeks ago.

Is shopping second hand sustainable?

Wherever you are in the world, if you go to a mall or shopping centre, you’ll likely find a Zara, or an H&M, or a Forever 21. Society is dominated by these fast fashion giants, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and confused about which brands are worth supporting.

Buying vintage and second hand provides a refreshing and, yes, more sustainable way to shop.

Better for people, the planet, and animals

Buying pre-owned clothes allows to add items to our wardrobe without using additional resources in the manufacturing process. The fashion industry is responsible for 8-10%of global carbon emissions, uses massive amounts of water, and exploits workers and animals worldwide.

Buying clothes that already exist slows down the fast fashion cycle and the relentless demands on low-paid workers in the supply chain.

You’re also keeping clothes out of landfills by giving them a new life and discovering unique and special pieces along the way. Gone are the days of arriving at a party wearing the same dress or t-shirt as your friend.

More accessible

Finally, shopping second hand is cheaper and more accessible! Many people are worried about the cost of sustainable fashion, but honestly, building an ethical wardrobe doesn’t have to be expensive, and buying second hand is a great first step.

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5 Best Online Thrift Stores for Sustainable Shopping

5 Best Online Thrift Stores for Sustainable Shopping

Following trends and buying new clothes tends to break the budget pretty fast. Shopping from fast fashion retailers helps to save cash while still buying new things, but at what cost? Clothes waste keeps rising as trends change. Fast fashion brands keep overproducing to feed into buyers’ overconsumption, and it’s a vicious cycle.

Shopping at thrift stores is a great way to shop sustainably while still getting trendy pieces at a low cost.

Why Is Thrifting the Way to Go?

Thrifting saves you money. You not only give pre-owned clothes a new home, but they often sell for a fraction of their old price. Besides the money-saving perk, though, thrifting is a great way to avoid supporting fast fashion and buy clothes in a more sustainable way.

Though there are many sustainability-forward clothes shops available currently, and more and more coming up each day, they tend to come with a hefty price tag attached. So most people simply can’t afford to shop there. But that shouldn’t deter your sustainability journey.

Advantages To Shopping For Clothes Online

This is where thrift shops shine. They offer all sorts of pieces from every category, from high-end brands to fast fashion and vintage pieces, it’s all there. And if you love a certain H&M top or Shein dress, it’s better to look into buying it secondhand rather than supporting the companies directly.

Online shopping has always been appealing, and online thrift stores make the thrifting experience even easier and simpler. Instead of spending hours on your feet rummaging through racks and clothes bins trying to find your next garment, you can type in a quick search, mark the proper filters, and scroll in the comfort of your couch.

1. ThredUp

ThredUp offers “Secondhand Clothes, Firsthand Fun”. It’s among the most recognizable places people go to online thrift. The store hosts millions of items, ranging from lower to higher-end brands.

You can find everything there, and the best part is it has many handy filters. Like, ones for petite and plus-size thrifting, which can be a huge time-saver and ease the whole shopping experience.

Apart from buying clothes from ThredUp, you can also sell your own items, all from the comfort of your home. If you order a Clean Out Kit, you get sent a giant polka dot bag that you can fill up with your clothes and ship it back to the company for free!

ThredUp does all the staging and photographing for you, and when your items sell, you earn money either as store credit or cash. Anything they don’t accept, you can either get sent back to you or get recycled. Isn’t that just the easiest way to get rid of unwanted clothes sustainably and make money off them with minimum effort?

If you want to save a few extra bucks when shopping on ThredUp, look for YouTuber discount codes. ThredUp often sponsors creators, so take advantage of that.

2. Depop

Depop lets you buy and sell fashion items and strives to create a global community that prizes diversity, inclusivity, and sustainability. When you shop at Depop, you help reduce waste.

The platform is right for you if you’re looking for more edgy, creative pieces. The entire platform takes great inspiration from Instagram in its setup and aesthetic, and it shows. You can spend hours browsing through its different feeds.

Like ThredUp, Depop lets you sell your items. It encourages people to display both what they’ve sold and what they’ve bought on their feed. Due to its edginess and social media presence, Depop tends to attract a younger crowd.

3. Poshmark

Poshmark is a great place to look for high-end designer brands and get them for a fraction of their original price.

The online thrift store offers items for women, men, kids, pets, and even the home. When you join Poshmark as a seller or buyer, you become a part of a global community. The platform boasts an impressive 70 million registered users with over 200 million items for sale.

You can find new or gently used secondhand, or as Poshmark puts it, “pre-loved” items. Every brand you can think of is likely to be featured on the thrift store, and there’s an incredible selection you can browse.

If you find something you like, but it’s out of your price range, Poshmark encourages haggling and even has an “offer/counter-offer” feature. There’s also a “like” feature that helps you track if an item has a price drop, so you can snag it.

4. ASOS Marketplace

As the name lets on, ASOS Marketplace derives from the popular ASOS fashion site. But since ASOS falls under the fast fashion umbrella, it’s better to support the online thrift store instead.

ASOS Marketplace is full of vintage boutiques and independent designers, and the platform is so easy to navigate. You can use the separate tabs or the search bar to browse for items and click away until you find them.

There’s also a separate Boutiques tab that takes you to a whole slew of boutiques waiting for you to explore them. There’s they Are Curves that caters to curvier individuals, Cuteryko that sells quirky handmade jewelry, and so on.

The online thrift store displays items modeled by real people and prizes inclusion and diversity. So, you’ll see plenty of different body types and skin tones while thrifting, helping you select the fit and shade that’s right for you.

5. Vinted

Vinted is an online marketplace that helps grant old clothes new life. The online thrift store lets its users buy, sell, and even swap new and secondhand items. It mainly deals with clothing and accessories.

It hosts a community of people who’d prefer to get rid of the items they no longer want sustainably, by finding a new owner. The platform is easy to use, and once you land on it, you’re dropped right in the thick of it, among the listed items for sale.

If you want to sell rather than buy, there’s a button you click, and it takes you to sign up. It only takes a few easy steps, and you’re good to go. Vinted is a mixed bag thrifting experience, as you can find a little bit of everything on it.

Is Thrifting Even Worth It?

In recent years, people have begun turning to thrifting spaces and using them to turn a profit, buying items for cheap and then re-selling them with a markup.

Sometimes they get their stock from other sellers, other times from physical thrift stores, and often they even turn to fast fashion stores, completely ruining the purpose of secondhand thrift stores in Lebanon, TN.

But these people are only a fraction and don’t represent the whole, so don’t overlook thrift shops just yet. Find an online thrift store that works for you, and get into it. Find a community, buy and sell sustainably, and do your best to reduce your clothes waste and not support fast fashion shops.

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5 Reasons Why Thrift Shopping Is Better Than Supporting Fast Fashion

5 Reasons Why Thrift Shopping Is Better Than Supporting Fast Fashion

Thrift shopping seems to be all the craze nowadays, with influencers flaunting their ‘thrift hauls’ left and right. However, buying pre-loved items at discounted prices is more than just a trend.

It’s a great alternative to supporting fast fashion, which accounts for much of the pollution and human rights violation in the world today. If you aren’t already a thrifter yourself, hopefully, these five reasons will convince you to ditch flagship stores in favour of thrift shopping.

Thrifting is cheap.

Perhaps the most obvious reason of all, thrift shopping can really help you save the big bucks.

Seeing as most items of clothing cost at least RM20 to RM30 these days, buying first-hand garments can weigh heavily on your wallet, especially if they’re not going to last very long. On the other hand, the clothes at thrift stores cost at least two times less than that.

While many of us tend to think that cheap low quality, you can actually find some hidden gems at thrift stores if you’re willing to look for them. (Not to mention the wonderful sense of accomplishment when you do!)

Thrifting is a great way to experiment with fashion.

If fashion’s your passion but you’re short on cash, then thrifting is the perfect way for you to discover your style. Remember all that money you saved from shopping for cheaper clothing items? You can use that extra cash to get more items to play mix and match with.

And if the pieces at the thrift store don’t suit your taste, you can always grab your sewing machine and flip them into a completely different look. Not sure how to do that? Fret not, there are hundreds of YouTube thrift-flipping tutorials for you to refer to. Who knows, you might end up making one of them yourself!

Thrifting is eco-friendly.

If you guessed the largest number, well, congratulations, you’re right! But take a second to process and understand just how much water 10,000 litres is. That’s more than 10 years of drinking water for the average person! 

The fast fashion industry is the second-largest source of pollution in the world, producing over 92 million tonners of waste each year.

That’s the weight of 19 Eiffel Towers combined! This enormous amount of waste stems from the short lifespans of fast fashion products, which is what drives the buy-and-throw-away culture.

Buying pre-loved items is a great way to keep them from going to landfills. Resource consumption is also decreased all across the supply chain from production to transportation. Consider thrifting as a fashionable way of saving the planet.

Thrifting is ethical.

Hard as it may be to swallow, the beautiful, affordable pieces from world famous like H&M, Forever 21, and Zara are often produced through worker exploitation. The wages for making a piece of clothing can be as low as 0.1% of its price, and as of today, no multinational retailer can claim to pay their workers a living wage.

Countries like Bangladesh and India are full of sweatshop horror stories, with women and children living in quarters that are barely fit for animals.

Hence, thrifting reduces the need for producing new items. It’s an important step towards breaking the cycle of worker rights violation. So, you can go ahead and post that picture of your thrifted #OOTD without the guilt of starving workers weighing on you.

Thrifting is charitable.

While not every thrift store donates their proceeds to charitable causes, certain shops do. As compared to fast fashion, which does people more harm than good, thrifting is a great way to help others. At the same time, you are also reaping benefits!

Wouldn’t it be great to know that the vintage jacket you thrifted has actually bought someone a meal, or some much-needed stationery? If your answer is yes, then head on over to the thrift stores in Santa Rosa Beach, FL to start shopping! (Don’t forget to wear a mask and maintain social distancing!)

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Why we need to be mindful when thrifting

Why we need to be mindful when thrifting

The trend of thrifting has been growing since last year, and has recently escalated thanks to TikTok. 

With youths’ videos of their “thrift hauls” or “thrifted fits” getting thousands of views on the app, many have been flocking to thrift stores selling second-hand things for significantly lower prices. 

Benefits of thrifting culture

One such youth who has been thrifting for the past 10 years is Nicole Chin, 25.

She said: “Thrifting is good, because you’re buying things that have been used before and have not been manufactured. If there are more people going thrifting, there will be less demand for clothes to be produced.”

One of the benefits of thrifting is that it helps to reduce the demand for fast fashion, which is cheap and trendy clothing that retailers mass-produce, often by underpaying garment workers and making them work in inhumane conditions.

Thrifting is also more sustainable. According to the National Environment Agency, 168 tonnes of textile and leather waste was generated in 2019, of which only six tonnes were recycled. The clothing that ends up in our landfill is normally made of synthetic fabric fibres, and will never decompose.

Thrifting has many benefits, but the influx of youths onto the trend has also raised some concerns.

Over-consumption of clothing

Because the clothes are so cheap, some people have the tendency to impulse-buy anything that catches their eye at the thrift shops in Santa Rosa Beach, FL. 

But how environmentally-friendly can thrifting really be if people are buying so many clothes, just to wear them once?

To prevent over-thrifting, Nicole is quick to caution against buying more clothes than you need, even if those clothes happen to be cheap and “better for the environment”.

The social media marketer said: “It’s very important to understand why you’re even going [thrifting] and being very conscious of what you’re purchasing, because it’s very easy to get caught up in over-consumption and over-thrifting.

“How many times are you going to wear this? Is what you’re doing at the end of the day still good for the environment?”

Increased prices for people who actually rely on thrift stores

Some of us may also have forgotten the original purpose of thrift stores: to provide things for people who cannot afford them in regular stores.

The thrift shops used to be frequented by domestic workers. As they do not have credit cards to buy cheaper clothes online, they usually rely on these stores. 

If more youths start thrifting at Lucky Plaza and buying loads of cheap clothes, prices at the shops may increase, taking away cheap clothes from people who need them more.

But this doesn’t mean that we youths should stop thrifting altogether. In fact, having more people thrifting can benefit the people who rely on thrift shops, provided we can spread out the demand by thrifting at different stores.

By buying from these lesser-known thrift stores, we can help to refresh their stock and, in turn, allow people who rely on those stores to have access to a greater variety of newer clothing at low prices.

Thrifting just because it’s trendy and not because you have to is certainly a privilege, but that does not make thrifting bad.

At the end of the day, responsible thrifting culture is good for more youths to be a part of, as it encourages us to shop more sustainably.  

A representative at SSVP Shop aptly said: “Thrifting is for everyone, regardless of socio-economic background. 

“Most of the time, these donated items would have ended up in the trash or neglected in the wardrobe, and it is better to see these items with new owners or in new homes.”

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3 Benefits of Thrifting and Consigning

3 Benefits of Thrifting and Consigning

While you’re young, take advantage of your ability to slip into vintage without looking dated. From the neighborhood Goodwill to a hip Buffalo Exchange or swanky designer shop, thrift shops in Santa Rosa Beach, FL and consignment boutiques are where all the cool kids shop today. Pre-owned pieces are seriously beneficial in the sense that they are unique, eco-friendly, and high quality.

Unique. It’s a thrill to dig and find that rare piece of treasure! Thrifted or consigned apparel are sometimes historical and always one-of-a-kind; they are definitely unavailable at your local Forever 21, Zara, or H&M.

Legendary costume designer, Patricia Field, admittedly prefers putting actors in used clothing. This way, film audiences are more focused on the plot rather than identifying which trendy retail stores the characters’ ensembles come from.

Eco-Friendly. Did you know that the textile industry is one of the largest polluters in the world? Cotton growth consumes a substantial amount of harmful pesticides and fertilizers, and textile treatment or dyeing contributes to 20 percent of fresh water pollution.

If you care about the earth, you should consider buying secondhand. Clothes should be recycled because quite frankly, fashion trends follow a rotation. Contemporary styles frequently mimic looks from previous times. Thus, it is judicious to rock recycled, revamped, original, and most likely cheaper versions of the current craze.

Quality. Back in the day, mass-production did not exist. Moreover, products composed of fine construction and were created with exceptional handwork.

Fabric was made with 100 percent natural fibers, rather than with synthetic fibers (polyester, rayon, viscose, etc.), which results in a rich and breathable feel. Detailing was hand sewn, stitched, embroidered, or beaded, for a delicate appearance.

Beads were made of pure glass, rather than plastic, thus they glimmer under lights and clink with movement. Since pieces from the past are without a doubt luxurious, Fashionistas commonly tailor vintage to cater to their tastes and fit them like a glove.

Shopping gently-used attire can be a serendipitous and experimental experience. If you decide to wander into a thrift or consignment shop sometime, remember to wear a simple outfit that is easy for try on.

Skim the entire store, keep an open mind (don’t look for specific items), and don’t let sizes constrict you to certain areas (different decades rely on different scales). With practice, patience, as well as an eye for design, you will soon begin to understand Macklemore’s enthusiasm for thrifting!

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THRIFTING SMART IS A LIFESTYLE

THRIFTING SMART IS A LIFESTYLE

When you think about thrifting, you may assume that in order to “do it right” you need to ditch all of your regular shopping habits to do so. The truth is, you can weave thrifting into your normal habits naturally and easily. And you can save money, find fantastic treasures, and save the planet while you do it.

Ready to reap the wonderful benefits of thrifting? Keep on reading to find out what you can expect when you start to incorporate thrifting into your normal shopping habits.

1. Find Designer Items At A Fraction Of The Price

All kinds of clothing, accessories, home decor and more make it to thrift stores—and that includes designer duds. Part of the allure of thrifting is the hunt, and every time you shop there’s always the possibility of coming across a designer dress or bag originally ticketed for $100 that’s selling for $5.

Even household names like Fendi and Gucci have been known to appear in a purse bin here or a sunglass rack there. If you dig through the racks, you may just be surprised by what quality brands you can find at steep discount.

2. Save Money

The average American spends between $1,000-$2,000 each year on clothing, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The kicker? They only wear about 20% of what’s in their closet. When you thrift, you have the option to save hundreds of dollars on new additions you purchase for your closet.

While exact savings will vary based on location and item, you can expect to save anywhere from 50-80% on thrifted items. Plus, when you’re ready to let them go, it’s easier to say goodbye and donate or resell if you didn’t pay full price for them.

3. Furnish Your Home On A Budget

One of the great things about thrift stores is that you can also shop for homewares, furniture, art, and more. While many people thrift for clothing, there’s an entire other world to shop from.

With sky-high prices floating around for most home decor pieces online and in traditional stores, thrift stores offer affordable pieces that still have plenty of life left in them.

The next time you’re thinking about buying a new dining table or need a piece of artwork for your office, stop by your local thrift store first—you never know what you might find!

4. Help The Planet

It’s no secret that the textile industry requires a massive amount of water and energy in order to function. Fast fashion alone accounts for 10% of all carbon emissions in the world, putting out a massive 150 billion clothing items per year, according to Business Insider. Thrifting, on the other hand, is an environmentally conscious choice.

Not only do clothes get recycled into a new home, but you can also donate the clothes you no longer need yourself. The EPA estimates that textile waste occupies nearly 5% of all landfill space—and these materials take years to break down. Thrifting is the perfect opportunity to reduce, reuse, recycle!

5. Embark On A Treasure Hunt

Nothing beats the feeling of entering a thrift store not knowing what you’ll find. Each shopping trip can yield something completely different, adding to the excitement of the hunt.

In contrast to neatly organized department stores or fancy boutiques, the thrift stores in Santa Rosa Beach, FL offer “one-of-a-kind” gems to dig for as you search each rack. As new items are added during certain days or times, the hunt can begin all over again.

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5 Most Fascinating Benefits of Thrifting

5 Most Fascinating Benefits of Thrifting

Here are some attractive benefits that you didn’t know about preloved or pre-used clothes you buy. 

Saves the Environment 

Thrifting is an easy way to go green by shopping at a local thrift store in Santa Rosa Beach, FL! The process from manufacturing to distributing new clothes takes a lot of energy and water. 

Disposing of unwanted clothing also adversely affects the environment. It can take several months and years for cloth materials to fully degrade in the landfills! 

By buying secondhand clothes instead of brand new, you contribute to saving the environment by reducing waste.

It makes wardrobe more appealing 

Whether to stay on top of the latest trends or express your dress-sense with unique and vintage clothing, thrifting allows you to create a wardrobe that’s ultimately one-of-a-kind. 

Thrift shopping is a lot like a surprise: you never know what you might find, totally a treasure hunting activity. 

Drop and shop 

Thrifting is fun with new fashion trends and dropped rates! At thrift stores, amazing deals are around every corner! 

You can heavily save on clothing, home décor, furniture, shoes, accessories, books, games, and so much more for the entire family. 

It’s a great feeling to buy more for less by choosing to thrift at stores over a traditional retailer.

Thrift for DIY ideas 

There’s no dearth of thrift store finds that are ready to be upcycled into something new; from furniture to décor to fabric, you will find it all! Keep your next DIY project in mind, and when you next go for thrift shopping, you might find great ideas at great deals. 

Saves the community 

Unlike big retail chains, many thrift stores exist to serve their customers and not generate a profit for stockholders. 

Choosing a thrift store to shop that’s driven by a mission to help others is a beautiful way to make a difference in your community.

Conclusion 

Wearing recycled clothes is no more an outrageous thing in society. Now the new generation is becoming more innovative and knows the beneficial facts to the community and globe. 

The fashion trend is more into wearing thrift clothes which is becoming a cool thing at discounted prices. 

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10 BENEFITS OF THRIFT SHOPPING FOR YOU AND FOR THE PLANET

10 BENEFITS OF THRIFT SHOPPING FOR YOU AND FOR THE PLANET

Thrift shopping, or “thrifting”, is the act of patronizing pre-loved or second hand items at a discounted price. Most items at thrift stores or consignment shops are second hand or “pre-loved”, if you will, by a previous owner but still remain in good enough condition to be loved by another owner.

Meanwhile, charity shops are thrift shops but for a cause. A charity shop, such as stores like Goodwill and Salvation Army is usually spearheaded by a charitable organization in order to raise funds for a cause. 

There are so many reasons to love thrifting and many more reasons to start to shop at consignment stores. Here are only several reasons out of many, many more:

1. CHEAP BUT QUALITY THRIFT STORE FINDS

One of the best things with thrifting is the low prices for good quality clothing and other items. They get to save money and get good deals too? Wow. 

In thrift shops, you have many options in shopping clothing that would cost you multiple times at department stores. And mind you, these are high quality clothes, branded items. Many thrift finds come from popular brand names and with some clothes, bags, and shoes still with price tags on it! Sometimes there are also new items in many thrift stores too, all for low prices still.

2. UNIQUE AND DIVERSE STYLES

Aside from saving us a lot of money and finding us good deals, they love thrift stores for the plethora of clothes, bags, shirts, furniture, and whatnots that come in various styles.

This allows us the freedom of curating own original style with the vast options a thrift store has for us. Whether your style demands a quirky pop t-shirt or a simple plaid cotton skirt, your local thrift stores have it all for you.

3. ELEMENT OF SURPRISE

Most times, thrifting is a lot like going on some treasure hunt. You never know what you will find after digging through each pile or rack of clothes, but finding a unique piece for a cheap deal is definitely a treasure find.

There is so much sense of fulfillment walking out of a thrift store with something you didn’t expect you’d find, but something you very much love. And that’s what makes thrifting most exciting too!

4. VINTAGE STEALS

Because fashion is cyclical, it is also timeless. What people wore back in the 50’s, kids these days are bringing back into style and turning it into trendy, fashionable looks. And why, of course, your local thrift store is abundant with these vintage clothing!

Want a Pinterest-worthy, trendy vintage look? Go thank your friendly neighborhood thrift shop for making your vintage #ootd possible at very friendly prices.

5. WEEKLY VARIATION

Since there are a ton of preloved items waiting to find a new home, thrift stores frequently receive donations. This makes thrifting even more fun, as there are new clothes, bags, shoes, and other products to check out every week! Fast fashion, who? 

6. AN ITEM FOR EVERYONE

Whether it’s kids clothing, wardrobe for students, a quirky gift for your writer friend, or a Christmas present for your parents, there is always something for everyone at a consignment store or at the flea markets near your neighborhood. Instead of having to hop around shops, a trip to the thrift store makes the family shopping so much more convenient!

7. REDUCE WASTE

Someone else’s trash is another man’s treasure. 

Every time you go thrift shopping at your local thrift store instead of the mall, you’re giving a new home to someone else’s clothes that would have otherwise gone to fill up landfills.

With the advent of fast fashion in the 1990s, the throw-away culture that people have developed has led to a toxic amount of clothing waste that adds up to pollution. Because of the overwhelming options they have, shopping habits have become linear and thoughtless.

8. SUPPORTING LOCAL

When you choose to shop at thrift stores or resale shops, you are choosing to support a local business. There are also some thrift stores that are social enterprises, so the proceeds of the clothing and products they sell go to a charitable cause to help in your community.

This makes shoppers leave the store feeling double better with their purchase! It’s both shopping and helping out at the same time.

9. LESSER CARBON FOOTPRINT

Would you believe that it took around 1,800 gallons of water to produce that pair of jeans you’re wearing now? And that’s only one aspect of the production process that all goes into the clothing industry. What about the manufacturing and the distributing of these clothing items?

Each part of the production for a single item has a corresponding amount of energy, carbon footprint and greenhouse gases being generated, all adding further damage to the planet. 

But each time you thrift an item instead of buying something new from the mall, you are maximizing all the resources spent on each item when you extend its life to the fullest. Plus, making a detour to the thrift store benefits both your wallet and the planet.

10. SUSTAINABLE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

The fashion industry is one of the biggest industries existing, and understandably so, as it is something very personal to each of us. Unfortunately, this makes it also one of the largest pollutants in the environment. This is why thrifting is the best middle ground between the two situations. It’s a win-win for everyone, really.

WHY IS THRIFT SHOPPING GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?

Shopping at the thrift shops in Panama City Beach, FL diverts what would otherwise be waste lying around useless at the landfill. With every piece of second-hand clothing that you give a new life to, you are also extending the planet’s life as much.

The mass production of clothing and all other fashion products multiplied supply over demand, leading people to replace items easily just because they can acquire them easily.

Just look at the United States, which is among the top polluters when it comes to textile waste, the average American produces around 60 up to 80 pounds of clothing waste annually. Let’s not forget that these materials take months and even years to fully break down in the landfills.

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Why Thrift Shopping Benefits You And Our Planet

Why Thrift Shopping Benefits You AND Our Planet

Thrift shopping is something that you either like or you don’t. For some people, the idea of wearing clothes that have already been worn disgusts them; to which they agree, if someone has been sweating in a t-shirt without washing it, for you to then wear that would feel quite invasive.

The clothing consumerism industry has done nothing but grow over the last decade. With the introduction of social media, online shopping and constant exposure to what everyone else is wearing, it can be difficult to not feel obligated to want and desire the persistent stream of clothing being released every day.

Alongside these new pieces, comes expensive prices, sweatshop labour and having the girl next door own an identical item. High-street stores such as Topshop, H&M, Zara all sell hundreds of the same dress, skirt, jeans.

“If being original adds to your personal style, then surely an expensive high-street store is your worst enemy. However, thrift shops should be your best friend.”

There is an argument that we should not be buying such an incredible amount of low-quality clothing. Spending more money on a piece of clothing that will last you longer is better for the environment and  prevents you from having to replace the item as it wears out. 

One person simply doesn’t need 5 of the same t-shirt in a range of colors. They all serve the same purpose but look different to the eye. Stores such as Forever 21 rarely produce clothing of a high, sustainable quality. After several wears, their clothing becomes worn and sometimes even broken, what a waste of material, right?

How much clothing is wasted? 

American’s send an average of 10.5 million tons of clothing to landfills every year. Let’s make some calculations based on this statistic. If the population of the United States is 325,643,513 then 10,500,000 tons of clothing divided into 325,643,513 people of America means that on average each person wastes 0.03 tons (27kg) of clothing every year.

That is the weight of an average 8 or 9-year-old child. If this amount is persistent throughout the consumer’s life, the average life expectancy for American men and women is 78.8 years, multiply that by 0.03 tons (27kg) and throughout their life, they will have wasted 2.364 tons (2144.6kg) of clothing.

This problem total will only remain an issue if the consumers continue to waste and get rid of the unwanted clothing they buy. The consumers must think about what they buy: is it good quality? Will I wear this more than 20 times? Can it be susceptible to fashion for the next 5 years?

Will you still want to wear this clothing item in 5 years time? It is these questions that upon consuming, will bring these buyers back to reality. Money should be spent wisely, there is no point in buying an item that you will “use up” like you would with a box of chocolates.

Consume Wisely.

You may be thinking, buying clothing from thrift stores, second-hand shops, it is still consuming. There is consumption of timeless to be well-used items, then simply buying clothing for the sake of it. You can buy things from thrift shops sensibly, buy clothing of a high quality so it lasts a long time.

Thrift shopping can help us reduce this incredible waste number dramatically. When clothing is donated to thrift stores, as they sort through the items, anything that is not sell-able is sent to material recycling. Instead of your unwanted clothing stocking up in a landfill, they are utilized elsewhere.

Think about where the clothing you buy was made.

The poor, cheap conditions of sweatshops in Bangladesh are a hub for large brands such as H&M, Zara, and Topshop to employ factory workers at a cost, only a fraction of the price one item of clothing is sold for. Factory workers can be earning a limited amount of 3,000 takas a month (approximately £25).

Many are forced to work 14-16 hours a day, seven days a week. The employment in other industries is so limited that often the garment industry is their only option in order to provide a stable income for themselves. The chemicals used to make fake leather have a heavy impact on the local villages surrounding the factories.

The waste chemicals are flushed into the rivers and into their drinking water, causing many children to have mental and physical problems that will limit their life. Try thinking about that when you go to purchase that cheap fake leather handbag.

This mass production doesn’t only affect the people.

Chemicals used on crops to prevent insects from attacking plants has encouraged the plants to struggle. Plants are genetically modified so that they can produce more seeds, more harvest, to create more clothing that the Western world essentially doesn’t need.

The farmers who grow the crops for this mass production system are forced to use pesticides, to keep up with other farmers and ensure they gain enough profit from their business. Living and working around so many chemicals can affect their body dramatically.

Exposure to these harmful chemicals has been linked to the increased presence of Parkinson’s disease, asthma, childhood leukemia and much more. The production of organic material is decreasing, a high demand for material means than organic cannot always be an option. Mass production and organic material cannot work together.

How can I buy clothing ethically and in a sustainable way?

Think about the company you buy from before you purchase clothing, think about if you really must spend the money on the item. It may feel like only a small help in such a large problem, but if consumers start to question the ethical morals of these high-street companies, the brands are forced to open their eyes to such an important issue.

Supporting these brands only encourages them to produce more and more clothing in sweatshops. Extend your clothing opportunity and try looking at thrift stores in Panama City Beach, FL, the money goes to a good cause and you have hundreds of items to search through, that’s more chances of finding a hidden gem!

There are also many ethical clothing brands entering the market, which allow you to support the fair wages of garment workers when you purchase clothing.

Want to educate yourself on fast fashion and this global issue? 

There are hundreds of documentaries about these problems, fast fashion must be exposed to more consumers. The True Cost is a great documentary about the secrets behind the system, it exposed me to understanding these issues, so I am sure it can help you too!

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