Many of us would have a visceral reaction if we had to wear what was considered stylish even a couple of years back: galaxy leggings, tie-dye t-shirts, cow and leopard-print everything. Personally, my bet is that white camouflage print is the next to be considered “so last season.”
With ever-changing clothing trends being accelerated by social media usage, we have no one to blame but ourselves for the rise in fast-fashion, which Britannica, an encyclopedia, describes as the rapid mass production of low-quality clothing.
Consumers like me and you will buy the trendiest piece of clothing and wear it for a couple of months before it ends up in the landfill and gets replaced by an entirely new line of clothing. If the stock doesn’t sell by the time the new line comes in, some stores do the dumping themselves.
Plus, with the earth already warming up every passing moment (seriously, why is it 90 degrees in March?), the last thing this planet needs is more pollution and garbage.
Why do we thrift?
Face it — you don’t need the latest trending Stussy shirt, leopard-print skirt, or any of the clothing that influencers are advertising as a “must-have.” Personally, I fell victim to the frog bucket hat in 2021, and now it’s sitting in my closet collecting dust. And besides the obvious amount of over-consumption that trends and brands facilitate, it’s just not financially smart to frequently spend hundreds of dollars on clothing.
What to thrift?
Literally anything from clothes to shoes to accessories — the bins are your sandbox. That being said, be mindful of what you put in your cart. If you’re buying secondhand items online, make sure the seller seems legitimate; this may mean looking at reviews or asking for specific pictures of the item you’re trying to buy. On the other hand, if you thrift in person, it’s much easier to check clothing for any rips, tears, or stains. Something to also be aware of is that you’re also likely to find lower quality items made with polyester or other cheap fabrics.
How do we thrift?
If you go to a thrift store, chances are you won’t be able to find the exact item you’re looking for. But you might find something unexpected that becomes an essential part of your wardrobe. For many, going to thrift stores to tackle the unknown is even a hobby. The most accessible option for thrift shopping is the Goodwill located in our very own Milpitas. However, you may want to diversify your options in San Jose, where thrift stores are much more common, with even more Goodwills and other smaller stores such as Hope Nuevo Thrift, located in Berryessa.
In contrast, if you’re looking for specific pieces of clothing, you’re in luck. In the modern age of technology, there is no shortage of second-hand websites such as Depop or Facebook Marketplace.
On the downside, thrifting has become increasingly dominated by resellers: people who thrift specific items of clothing only to sell them at marked up prices. If you’re looking for something popular or vintage, chances are that a lot of the items considered good finds will already be snatched up by resellers. Unfortunately, there’s really no way to get over this hurdle other than going to thrift stores as they restock.
Thrifting and buying clothing sustainably
Before you make your next purchase, here are some things to think about: Is it necessary, and have you wanted it for more than a couple of months? If you answered “no” to either of those questions, you might want to hold back on buying anything.
But remember: Buying sustainably doesn’t mean all or nothing — it’s OK to treat yourself to a new pair of jeans or a designer bag that you’ve been eyeing for months. In fact, thrifting copious amounts of clothing is a form of over-consumption as well, regardless of price. It’s important to be mindful of how much clothing you’re thrifting. The lower prices make it tempting to buy more clothing than you usually would, which makes thrifting financially and sustainably counterintuitive.
In the end, finding a happy balance between buying secondhand and buying new is one step closer to living an eco-friendly lifestyle!
