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Secondhand Clothes Thrift Stores

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, THRIFT!

23 best vintage and op shops in Melbourne • The Sweet Wanderlust
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, THRIFT!

So what kinds of items are thrift stores looking for when it comes to donations?

It’s pretty easy, really: Here’s a quick list of donations thrift shop in Destin, FL accept:

CLOTHING

  • Men’s, Women’s, Children’s Clothing
  • Men’s, Women’s, Children’s Shoes
  • Nylons, Socks, Underwear
  • Accessories such as: Hats, Mittens, Scarves, Ties, Purses, Wallets, Fanny Packs, Bags

HOUSEHOLD ITEMS

  • Bed sheets, blankets, pillows, curtains, tablecloths, and similar items
  • Bath towels, hand towels, wash clothes, bath rugs
  • Sports equipment, exercise equipment, bicycles
  • Kitchen Ware such as pots, pans, utensils, china, vases, dishes, cutlery, glassware, silverware
  • Small electrical appliances such as power tools, irons, blenders, mixers, stereos, CD players, speakers, DVD players & VCRs, lamps, fans, humidifiers
  • Miscellaneous Items such as jewelry, crafts, mugs, candles, pictures/frames, baskets, ornaments, hand tools

FURNITURE

  • Chairs, sofas, couches, loveseats, recliners, foot stools, storage dressers, armoire, bookcase, cabinets, entertainment centers, dining tables, kitchen tables, coffee tables, end tables, computer tables, night stands, patio sets

VEHICLES

  • Cars, trucks and RV’s (must be able to drive it to the store / do not call for home pick up)

ENTERTAINMENT

  • Hardback and paper books
  • Magazines
  • Records, tapes, CDs
  • Videos, DVDs, Blu-rays
  • Toys, games, and puzzles

Sadly, we do draw the line at some items. Here’s a list of donations thrift stores cannot accept:

  • Mattresses/box springs for sanitary reasons
  • Hazardous waste/materials
  • Pepper spray/mace
  • Used children’s car seats
  • Used major appliances
  • Mini-fridges
  • PC’s / Computers / Printers
  • Box TVs (tube, cabinet, console). We will only accept flat monitor style that can be easily mounted on a wall.
  • Construction remains (i.e. carpet scraps, boards with nails, etc.)
  • Items recalled by the CPSC
  • Liquids
  • Firearms, stun guns and firearms accessories

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Secondhand Clothes Thrift Stores

Tips for Finding the Perfect Pair

The Newest Levi's Collaboration Embraces the Vintage, Handmade Aesthetic |  GQ
Tips for Finding the Perfect Pair

In my experience, all thrift store in Destin, FL and vintage shops have a denim section. If you walk into a vintage shop and are having trouble finding the denim section, don’t be shy about asking for help. 

There are also great online resources for denim shopping that can make the process more seamless, along with finding a wider range of sizes. Check out our online vintage shop roundup as a good place to start. 

LOOK AT THE TAGS

When I am shopping for vintage denim, the first thing I look at is the tag. Over time, I have acquired a good eye for knowing if the tag is vintage or not. The key is noticing the information on the tag itself. Use this visual guide to help in distinguishing vintage tags based on eras.

The logo on the tag is a great indication that you have found a vintage piece—see the font and the way the tag is sewn into the jeans. Another thing I look for is “made in the USA.”

Manufacturing outside of the US didn’t spike until the late 1970s and, while it is still vintage if it doesn’t say made in the USA (a true vintage piece is 20 years old), the quality is typically higher if it was made locally.

FIND THE SHAPE THAT WORKS FOR YOU

Be prepared for the sizing and shapes to be totally different than modern denim. Vintage denim jeans are four sizes smaller than modern jeans. Try not to focus on the sizes, however, and rather on how well the jeans fit. Bring a variety of sizes, washes, and shapes into the dressing room with you. 

It may take some time before you find the right fit for your body type. And remember, you can always get your denim tailored. When I found my first pair of 501s, they taught me the magic that is tailoring—it allows you to create the perfect fit for your body.

When shopping for vintage denim, I ask myself a few questions to help me find the right fit and determine where the piece will need tailored:

  • Does the inseam sit where I want it on my hips and waist?
  • Do I like how the jeans sit on my booty?
  • Where is the length of the jeans sitting?
  • How baggy are they? Are they too baggy around the thighs or waist?

FEEL THE FABRIC

Being that synthetic fibers have been around since the 1930s, many vintage pieces have blended fabrics, which aren’t the most lasting or highest quality. When shopping for vintage denim, you want to look for pairs made from 100 percent cotton and woven twill.

True vintage denim is thicker in feel, being that it does not contain synthetic fibers, whereas modern denim jeans are much stretchier. With this in mind, it may take time to break in a new pair of vintage denim—just like leather, thicker vintage denim takes some time to break in to fit your body.

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Secondhand Clothes Thrift Stores thrifting

HOW THRIFTING IS HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT

Secondhand Clothing Sales Boom Is Good News for the Environment - EcoWatch
HOW THRIFTING IS HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT

Fashion trends come and go. Keeping up with the fast-changing fashion trends has led manufacturers to produce large clothing at faster speeds. This process has had lasting effects on the environment.

Here is how thrift shops in Lebanon, TN are helping the environment:

REDUCING TEXTILE WASTE

Clothing is worn and tossed faster than expected. People tend to toss clothing out when it no longer fits. Not to mention all the clothing that is thrown out because it is no longer in style. These pieces of apparel usually end up in two places: the garbage dump or second-hand stores.

Studies show that the average American tosses out 81 pounds of clothing every year. Add all that up and it can be equivalent to 26 billion pounds of textiles that end up in landfills all over the United States. Thrifting helps reduce textile waste because the clothing gets recycled by allowing someone else to buy it. 

KEEPING THE OCEANS CLEAN

The ocean is home to 50 to 80 percent of all life on earth. Tossing toxins into the ocean impacts the lives of aquatic species and animals that play critical roles in the environment. One way that we can keep oceans clean is by thrifting. 

Most clothing nowadays has some form of polyester. This type of fabric does not decompose in the ocean. If it ends up in the sea, it can pollute and harm the environment. Thrifting helps reduce textile waste by giving people a safe way to recycle clothing. 

REDUCING THE USE OF WATER

Aside from polluting oceans, the fashion industry is also to blame for consuming water. It is the second-largest consumer of the world’s water supply. A large amount of water usage affects the water supply for drinking purposes. 

For example, it takes 650 gallons of water to make one new cotton t-shirt. A pair of jeans takes 1,800 gallons of water. The thrift industry reduces the use of water by selling jeans that can be reused and passed down. This process helps decrease the need to produce new clothing.

STOPPING AIR POLLUTION 

When you think about which industries being the largest air polluter, what comes to mind? Perhaps, the oil industry is your top choice. However, did you know that the fashion industry is one of the world’s largest air polluters? It produces 10 percent of all humanity’s carbon emissions. 

Minimizing air pollution is critical to prevent health issues and prevent climate change. Calling for a donation pick up Omaha service and shopping at thrift stores is easier to reduce air pollution. This helps reduce the need to manufacture new clothing and shoes. 

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Secondhand Clothes Thrift Stores

9 Reasons Why Buying Secondhand Clothes is Awesome

History of Secondhand Clothes | LoveToKnow
9 Reasons Why Buying Secondhand Clothes is Awesome

There are plenty of reasons why you should buy secondhand clothing, many of which actually benefit you personally, no matter your lifestyle. Buying secondhand clothes also benefits the environment in a big way, making it a win-win.

Whether you’re unsure if buying secondhand clothes is for you, or maybe you just want to educate yourself of the perks, this post will open your mind to the idea of shopping for secondhand clothing. It might even make you excited to get to your nearest thrift store.

Let’s get to it! Here are some reasons why you should buy secondhand clothing.

Buying secondhand clothing saves money

As you probably already know, you can save an incredible amount of money shopping for secondhand clothes. You’ll never pay anywhere near full price, and this is great for when you find high-quality clothing from brand names that you know and trust.

The amount of savings will of course depend on the thrift shops in Lebanon, TN – they’re all different. So explore the secondhand shops in your area to see who has the best clothes/deals, or find other spots in your area to get secondhand items.

You extend a garment’s life-cycle

Do you have clothes in your wardrobe that are in great condition but you don’t wear them for whatever reason? Or maybe something that you wore often but is no longer your style, no longer fits, or you just don’t love it anymore?

You wouldn’t just throw away something that’s in perfectly good condition just because you don’t wear it anymore, right? Someone should get some use out of it. And chances are, this person is going to fall in love with it, just like you did.

Buying used promotes sustainable fashion

Another reason why you should buy secondhand clothing is that it promotes sustainable fashion. Buying secondhand clothing is a big part of the slow fashion movement and a key factor when you’re starting to create a sustainable wardrobe.

Sustainable fashion is all about slowing down in regards to fashion. It means wearing used clothing, buying clothing that was made sustainably and/or ethically, and with fabrics made from eco-materials like organic cotton, Tencel and hemp.

In other words, a sustainable wardrobe is filled with secondhand clothing and/or clothing made by slow fashion brands, both of which do wonders for the environment.

Secondhand clothing is unique

Majority of clothing that you will find in thrift stores are completely unique. The chances of there being two of the same item in the same thrift store or in other thrift stores are slim to none.

And chances are, you won’t be able to find the same piece ever again because they’re probably no longer being made, especially vintage clothing. So if you want one-of-a-kind clothing, shopping secondhand is a great way to get them.

Buying used clothing saves resources

When shopping for secondhand clothing, you’re saving resources and doing the environment a solid favor. This is because the resources have already been used to make the piece of clothing.

Instead of buying a new shirt or pair of pants that consumes resources to make it and distribute it to a store near you, buying used clothing doesn’t deplete any more resources.

Reduces fast fashion demand

When you purchase secondhand clothing instead of buying new from retailers, you’re reducing the demand for fast fashion. These days, fast fashion brands are just spitting out new, cheap clothing because a lot of people have adopted the mentality that clothes are easily discarded.

But, imagine if everyone started purchasing secondhand clothing or shopped slow fashion. These fast fashion companies would cease to exist, or they would have to conform to the new norm.

That’s why saying no to fast fashion and instead opting to build a more sustainable wardrobe is so important. As consumers, we help drive change!

Another man’s trash…

Is another man’s treasure. This saying holds true for secondhand clothing as well. I’ve come across countless pieces of secondhand clothes where my eyes pop open when finding something amazing. And then at a huge discount? It’s a great feeling.

Sometimes searching for secondhand clothing that you love will feel like finding a needle in a haystack, but that needle will turn out to be a diamond.

It’s easier to shop secondhand

In secondhand clothing stores, everything is usually sorted by size, making it a breeze when searching for clothes to buy. However, not all clothes fit equal, and you should still look at other sizes. I wouldn’t recommend trying clothes on at all thrift stores, just in case it wasn’t actually washed – especially if you’re not familiar with your thrift store’s practices.

Spotting a washer and dryer in a separate room in the store is usually a good indication that the clothes have been washed and then I feel comfortable trying on the clothes.

If you don’t want to try on clothes, take measurements like the shoulder width of a shirt you already have and use it as a guideline for when you’re shopping.

Secondhand clothes last longer

This may sound untrue but look at it this way. You can find a lot of clothes in thrift stores that are years old, especially if you’re in a vintage store. Some of these clothes were created before fast fashion started becoming so widespread. Since they are pre-fast fashion, they are better made and meant to stand the test of time.

Of course, you still have to know how to take care of your clothes in order to ensure their longevity, but the fact that these clothes are so well made, already makes clothes maintenance a lot easier.

Additionally, secondhand clothing lasts longer because used clothing has usually been washed a couple, if not dozens of times already. That means that any shrinking and fading that would have occurred, has already occurred.

Final thoughts on why buying secondhand clothing is awesome

So now you know the many benefits of buying secondhand clothing, both personal and environmental. It’s a great feeling shopping secondhand, knowing that you’re helping the environment, practicing slow fashion while also simplifying your life!

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thrift shop Thrift Stores

How to Recycle Old Clothes

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How to Recycle Old Clothes

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if clothes lasted forever? Unfortunately even after normal wear and tear from washing and drying, most clothing eventually gets worn out. But when it comes time to dispose of old, ratty clothes that you no longer wear, stop before you toss them into your garbage bin and consider recycling or repurposing!

Donating is an easy choice for clothes that are still presentable. But what about clothes that are far past their prime? Read on to learn about how to recycle clothes and shoes that aren’t in good condition. 

Why You Should Recycle Your Old Clothes

The EPA reported that “the main source of textiles in municipal solid waste (MSW) is discarded clothing, although other smaller sources include furniture, carpets, tires, footwear, and other nondurable goods such as sheets and towels.” Textile waste in 2015 totalled to 16 million tons or  6.1% of total municipal solid waste in 2015. That equates roughly to 100 pounds of textile waste per person that year! 

Clothing alone represented 4.5% of total municipal waste in 2015 and less than 1/3 of that was recycled (source: EPA).

The good news is, it isn’t difficult to do our part to reverse this trend because most clothes and shoes can be easily recycled if we dispose of them properly. 

How To Recycle Old Clothes

There are 5 simple ways that you can recycle old clothing and shoes. From textile recycling to your local thrift store, it’s easy to do the right thing. 

Textile Recycling:

If you’re not familiar with textile recycling, it can feel daunting when you don’t know where to start. Start by searching for clothing recycling bins in your area. Many of which will take clothing in any condition, and allow you to drop off your items for free. American Textile Recycling Service is a company that will collect donations at drop-off locations and sort through your textiles.

Websites like Recycle Now can help you locate an appropriate bin in your area. Terracycle is also a cool resource that will send recycling boxes to your home, office, or school to collect donations. Once the box is full, you just ship it back and they will recycle the contents for you!

Donate: 

Donate items that are still wearable/usable. Contact second-hand stores near you such as thrift stores in Panama City Beach, FL to see what recycling programs they have in place. 

Go Retail: 

More and more retail stores have started to accept old clothes in an effort to encourage proper recycling. Madewell, Levi Strauss & Co., H&M, and The North Face stores will accept your used clothes and shoes, recycle them, and even give you a reward for it. 

Compost: 

Fabrics made from natural fibers can be composted so long as they aren’t blended with synthetic fibers (like polyester, spandex, rayon, or nylon). Compostable fabrics include:

  • Cotton
  • Silk
  • Wool
  • Cashmere
  • Hemp
  • Bamboo
  • Linen

Two steps to properly prepare your clothing for compost include:

  1. Shred – Cut your fabrics into smaller pieces that will more easily break down when scattered in a compost bin.
  2. Remove non-biodegradable materials – These can include zippers, buttons, tags, synthetic fabric trims, etc.

Re-Purpose: 

Put that old t-shirt to work! You can easily convert your softer fabric clothing items into cleaning rags. This will save money, keep your home clean, and you’ll be doing the right thing by reusing old clothing. I keep recycled cotton fabric under our sink to use like “bar mops” when cleaning up after meals. I finish surfaces with DIY cleaning solution and a microfiber cloth.

How To Prevent Clothing Waste

Back in 2017, I committed to not buying any new clothes in 2017. After watching the documentary The True Cost, my eyes were opened to the negative impacts that too many of the biggest fashion brands have on our world. So instead of buying new clothes from my favorite brands that year, I simply looked for them at second-hand stores. 

Opting to buy second-hand is a fantastic way to reduce your personal clothing waste. If the idea of shopping second-hand makes you uncomfortable, read my tips for how to find great pieces at thrift stores. Your wallet and our planet will thank you! 

Alternatively, you can shop for new clothing from brands that care about sustainability and focus on purchasing items made with compostable materials.

No matter how you choose to shop, do your best to discard unused clothing responsibly!

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thrift shop Thrift Stores

Thinking of buying second-hand clothes for your Child?

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Thinking of buying second-hand clothes for your Child?

Not so long ago, the prospect of buying second-hand clothing for your child wasn’t exactly appealing. Mention the words ‘pre-loved clothing’ and most people would have envisaged mothball-scented cardigans and faded t-shirts, not exactly everyone’s cup of tea!

As pre-loved clothing has become increasingly accessible online (thanks to the likes of eBay and Facebook swap and sell groups), more and more people have opted to buy second-hand clothing for their little ones. Whether it’s for financial, ethical or environmental reasons, if you’re interested in buying pre-loved clothing for your Little One read on for our top 5 reasons why we think you should.

1. It Saves you Money

There’s one very obvious reason why people shop at flea markets, thrift shops in Destin, FL and online second-hand clothing retailers; quite simply because second-hand shopping means you can grab a bargain at a fraction of the retail price. Buying new children’s clothes can be expensive, particularly when you consider how quickly children grow!

You would be shocked if you calculated price per wear on those cute jeans you purchased just a few months ago that now no longer fit your toddler. Buying pre-loved for your Little One not only allows you to pay less at the cash register but it also gets you a better price per wear as your child grows!

2. It Fights Fast Fashion

Fast fashion brands are tempting when you’ve got a little one; they’re affordable, on trend and for the most part, quite reliable. But many popular fast fashion retailers produce irresponsibly in foreign markets, potentially exploiting workers, and are generally not very environmentally friendly.

By nature of being FAST, the fabrics and techniques used are not designed to last, resulting in poor quality clothing that ends up in the bin and eventually as landfill. 

On the other hand, buying new clothing from eco-friendly brands can feel expensive as usually these brands run at a much higher price point than their mass-produced fast fashion counterparts. Buying pre-loved items from these brands can be more accessible than buying new and still fights the fast fashion machine.

Buying pre-loved clothing that has been carefully crafted by ethical brands using high quality materials means you end up with pieces that will survive countless trips to the park, dropped ice creams and scraped knees until your child grows out of them and they can be donated or sold on again and again.

3. Pre-Loved Kid’s Clothing is Usually in Better Condition than Expected

They say to cherish every moment with your Little One because they grow up so fast, and we know first-hand that no truer word has been spoken; children grow very, very quickly! In fact, often babies grow out of those outfits lovingly purchased for them by aunties and uncles before they’ve even had the chance to try them on.

When it comes to pre-loved clothing though, this is only a good thing as it means the second-hand items are likely to have only been worn a handful of times and are therefore often in near perfect condition.

4. There’s More Variety

Ever wandered into a second-hand clothing shop and seen rows upon rows of the same brand or style? Didn’t think so. Buying pre-loved means you get to explore a whole range of different items in a choice of styles by a variety of different brands.

You can’t go wrong with classic styles like adorable dungarees and smart shirts for your Little One but shopping pre-loved also allows more room to choose on-trend looks without paying above the odds.

These days, there is also more variety in where you can find pre-loved clothes for your Little One. Some people love the thrill of trawling through the racks at their local charity shop hunting for something amazing but as online shopping continues to grow in popularity, there are many places where you can grab an amazing piece of pre-loved clothing online without ever needing to leave the house.

This is an especially attractive scenario when you’re caring for small children and it’s not quite so simple to just dash out to the shops! 

5. It’s Good for the Environment

The wellbeing of our planet is a huge issue right now (as it should be) and understanding the environmental impact of the decisions we make in our day to day lives is something many of us are becoming more and more aware of. Buying pre-loved is a great first step toward doing your bit for the Earth.

Did you know that by extending the life of a piece of clothing by a further 9 months, it reduces water, carbon and waste footprints by up to 30%? Not only does buying pre-loved keep perfectly wearable items out of the bin and therefore out of landfill, it actively decreases the demand for further manufacturing, which is a really positive thing for the planet since the fashion industry is the second biggest polluter in the world!

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What’s the environmental impact of fast fashion?

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What’s the environmental impact of fast fashion?

What is fast fashion?

‘Fast fashion’ is a term that has come to be synonymous with everything that’s currently wrong with the fashion industry. It refers to the system of design and manufacture that values quantity over quality, low prices over proper wages, and speed, trends and profits over people and the environment. The fast fashion model allows clothes to be produced cheaply and quickly in order to reflect continually evolving trends.

Over the past few decades, this has allowed mainstream consumers to buy on-trend clothing at an affordable price. It’s reported that in comparison to twenty years ago, we now purchase 400% more clothing. All this is taking its toll on the environment. The production and sale of clothes is the fourth largest pressure on the UK’s natural resources, coming after the demands of housing, transport and food.

So how exactly does fast fashion affect the environment?

Carbon dioxide

It may not surprise you to learn that fashion is a huge emitter! It’s estimated that clothing accounts for over 5% of global CO2 emissions. In 2015, the industry emitted a whopping 1.2 billion tonnes of CO2, more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined . 

Water

Significant amounts of water are used in the growing, refining, and processing of fibres. Cotton – one of the most widespread non-food crops in the world – is a particularly resource-intensive crop. According to the WWF, it takes roughly 2,700 litres of water to produce the cotton needed for just one shirt (not to mention the land required to grow it!).

A lot of this water is taken from ‘blue’ sources – surface-level bodies like lakes and rivers. Over time, this can have damaging effects on the water supplies of local communities, and has even led to the partial disappearance of the Aral Sea. In general, it’s estimated that as much as 200 tonnes of water are used per tonne of fabric in the textile industry – a lot of this is necessary for finishing processes like dyeing.

Polluting chemicals

The fast fashion industry also releases many dangerous and polluting chemicals that are damaging to the health of farmers, factory workers and the surrounding environment.

Pesticides, insecticides and herbicides are relied upon by farmers across the world to produce high yields of in-demand crops. Cotton is a prime example of this – According to the Pesticide Action Network UK, “[non-organic] cotton crops cover 2.4% of the world’s cultivated land but use 6% of the world’s pesticides, more than any other single major crop”.

The over-use of these chemicals threatens biodiversity (especially amongst pollinator species), ecological balance, and the health of nearby communities.

Dyes are another culprit; Fashion Revolution describes how “thick, ink-like water flows through rivers surrounding garment factories; a toxic soup of chemicals discarded from the industry’s synthetic dye processes, filtering into the water systems of the planet”.

Waste

The huge quantity of clothing produced worldwide creates millions of tonnes of fabric wastage, at all stages of the product lifecycle. Only 20% of textiles are currently recycled, and fewer than 10% of garments are made into new clothing each year. It’s estimated that the fashion industry creates approximately 13 kilograms of waste for every person on the planet per year – equating to a landmass larger than the size of France!

Clothing is also largely responsible for the less visible but equally worrying problem of microfibre pollution. When synthetic fabrics are washed, they release millions of hair-like strands that pass straight through wastewater treatment plants into the sea. 

What can we do as individuals?

  • Consider quality over quantity – buy less! It’s best to invest in fewer, better-quality clothes! If the idea of a capsule wardrobe is too extreme, try the 30-wears test next time you’re in the shops.
  • Shop second-hand: Shopping second hand is a way in which the life of our clothes can be extended! Thrift shops in Destin, FL are the perfect place to do this as clothes are not being wasted.
  • Support sustainable/ethical businesses: Supporting these businesses will allow you to feel more positive about where your clothes come from. Choose the ones that give you a clear picture of where their clothes originate– from the materials to production!
  • Get curious: When buying clothes, take a second to consider: how are the clothes I am buying being produced? Look up the background of the company and how they organise themselves, from the materials used to the ways in which they are produced. You can always check out the brand’s rating on Good On You.
  • Look out for greenwashing: Always look out for certifications from reputable organisations if brands are making claims over the sustainability of their products. Don’t be fooled by clever packaging or wording!

And it doesn’t have to be expensive! There are many ways to embrace sustainable fashion on a budget. A lot of important steps can be made through simple mindset changes, a re-adjustment of the way in which we approach shopping for, caring for and disposing of our clothes.

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Incredible Benefits of Thrift Shopping

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5 Incredible Benefits of Thrift Shopping

Chances are you’ve visited a thrift store before. Maybe you’ve gone thrift shopping for a Halloween costume or a tacky holiday sweater. But you don’t have to wait for these two occasions to head to your nearest thrift store! There are so many ways to benefit from thrift shopping all year round.

Reduce waste

Curate a one-of-a-kind wardrobe

Whether you want to stay on top of the latest trends or express your individuality with unique and vintage clothing, thrift shopping allows you to create a wardrobe that’s completely one-of-a-kind. Thrift shopping is a lot like a treasure hunt: you never know what you might find!

Score high-quality goods at low prices

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of finding a great bargain, and at thrift stores, amazing deals are around every corner! Save on clothing, home décor, furniture, shoes, accessories, books, games, and so much more for the entire family. It’s a great feeling to know you’re getting more for less by choosing to shop at a thrift store over a traditional retailer.

Support the community

Donate to thrift shops in Panama City Beach, FL and change a life!

They are a non-profit organization that’s serves the community. Every purchase you make at Goodwill helps to support our life-changing mission to provide job training and employment services to individuals with disabilities and our nation’s veterans. Best of all, when you choose to buy gently-used items instead of brand-new ones, you extend the life cycle of reusable goods and help to protect our planet for years to come!

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7 Ways to Reduce, Re-Use and Recycle your Wardrobe

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7 Ways to Reduce, Re-Use and Recycle your Wardrobe

Everyone has clothes in their wardrobe which they just don’t wear anymore. It’s often the result of one-too-many online shopping binges, or consistently buying into ‘the next big trend’. However this over-consumption of clothes is actually really harming the planet.

We need a new approach to shopping; purchasing less, buying more selectively and desposing unwanted items responsibly. Ultimately, we should be giving clothing the chance to stand the test of time.

If you switch to these 7 simple steps, you can still look good, feel good, all whilst doing the planet some good too.

Reduce

1. Reduce the urge to shop ‘on-trend’

Trends are temporary and ever-changing, and although they do eventually come back around, in the meantime clothing is too often seen as disposable. Not only does this waste vast amount of materials and resources involved in production, but the clothing is often chucked straight into landfill after the next new trend comes along.

Some thrift stores, such as COW, even boycotted big consumer holidays such as ‘Black Friday’ in protest against the fast-fashion industry:

2. Reduce the amount you buy on the highstreet

With all that being said, you don’t need to completely disregard shopping on the highstreet, as there are certain basics which are much harder to find anywhere else. However, even reducing the amount you consume from big corportate companies will dramatically decrease your own personal carbon footprint, annually.

3. Reduce your carbon footprint by shopping at thrift stores

Thrift stores are indepedently-owned treasure troves, and often full to the brim with rare and bespoke bargains. You really do get more bang for your buck than shopping on the highstreet, plus it doesn’t harm the planet. (It just goes to show the real life-span of our clothing, opposed to the assumption that clothing is redundant after a couple years of use).

Re-Use

4. Re-Use hand-me-downs!

Hand-me-downs are nothing new to most people, especially those with siblings. Clothing such as coats, shoes and denim jeans passed down from family or friends will save you tonnes of cash, compared to buying them all brand-new.

5. Re-Use the fabric from old clothing

A great way to re-use old or damaged clothing is to re-work the fabric. You can create cushion covers, bags, purses, hats, scarves – all you need is a basic sewing machine, enough fabric, and some creativity.

Recycle

6. Recycle unusable fabric

Sometimes, clothing is just too damaged to either re-use or give away, and it frequently ends up in landfill as a result. However, you can still recycle the fabric at your local tip, where old scraps of material will be broken down and used to make brand-new items, such as cleaning cloths and industrustrial blankets.

7. Recycle clothing by donating to charities

After your bi-annual closet purge, you can donate your unwanted clothes to women’s shelters, charities or to thrift stores in Panama City Beach, FL. This is a fun and eco-friendly way to recycle your old clothes (and make a bit of cash while you’re it).

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thrift shop Thrift Stores

Tips for Buying Thrift Store Clothes That Will Save You Time & Money

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10 Tips for Buying Thrift Store Clothes That Will Save You Time & Money

Location

What retail stores are near the thrift shop?  Nicer neighborhoods with more money and high-end stores tend to have better and more unique stock.  If your town only has a Walmart or Kmart, then that’s probably all you’re going to find at your thrift store too.  Richer neighborhoods tend to donate nicer stuff more often because they’re able to financially update their wardrobe at a whim.

Have a List

Know what you need before you head in.  It really helps save time to focus on what you need first, before browsing other sections.

Only Buy Quality

Higher quality clothes will also last much longer.

l look for well-known or expensive brands for longer lasting pieces like shoes, purses, and coats  — something worth the higher price tag thrift stores usually tack on these items.  

Only Buy What You Really Need

Thrifting is good because it helps people live a less materialistic life and have a lower environmental impact.  (The fashion industry ranks 3rd after oil and agriculture for the most damage done to the environment.) That means you are not going to take anything home unless you actually need it, it’s good quality.  Don’t buy something just because it seems like a good deal.

Bring a Buddy

Not only thrifting at thrift shops in Destin, FL with friends is fun but you can also work together to cover the store faster, especially if you know what the other is looking for and what size they wear.  It also helps hold you accountable to the list that you made ahead of time.  They’ll also let you know what looks good (or doesn’t look good) or isn’t a good deal.

Check Your Phone

Use your smart phone to look up brands you don’t recognize to see if they’re well-known or sketchy.  Compare similar items to see if you’re really getting a deal.

Sizing

Because different brands aren’t always the same size, it helps to keep track of your favorites in a notebook or phone.  This helps save time.

Consistency

People like to shop at thrift stores that have regular sales, discounted colors of the week, and coupons.  They find better items if they regularly check the store.  

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