There’s nothing like doing good while looking good: heading out for a day of kicking ass in some show stopping, thrifted overalls or a leather jacket that fits just right.
We all love avoiding fast fashion where possible and replacing it with a glorious thrifted fit, but how can we make sure that we are being responsible shoppers by looking beyond the obvious environmental benefits of buying secondhand and remaining mindful of the social factors.
Below I’ve listed things you may want to consider before heading out on your next thrifting expedition.
1. Go in with a plan
We often hit thrift stores without a concrete plan and end up with loads of random clothing crammed into a shopping basket. When you lay out what you really need ahead of time, you can make intentional purchases, avoiding unnecessary buys and leaving items for folks who may actually need them.
2. Steer clear of sections and sizes that do not directly pertain to you
Smaller sections, often the kids and men’s sections, are picked through by buyers who do not necessarily fit the intended demographic. Also important to note is the shortage of certain sizes in thrift stores. Like many retail stores, second hand shops also have a shortage of larger sized clothing.
Do not snatch the rarer, yet highly demanded styles.
3. Seasonal mindfulness
As we approach colder weather, we must again keep the needs of others at the forefront. Cold weather means a greatly heightened need for warm clothing, so if you don’t truly need it, don’t take it.
4. Think before you resell
Depop is notorious for being a space to exploit platform popularity to resell thrifted items at dramatically higher prices. Clothing that is meant to be accessible to underprivileged and marginalized communities, gets wiped out by people who comb through the aisles grabbing items they see being profitable.
As more and more people engage in this form of reselling activity, many thrift stores have taken note, upping their prices to account for this newfound popularity of privileged people investing in their products. This adds a whole new element of inaccessibility to the thrifting scene.
Sure, some extra cash is always great, but think about whether doing this at the expense of someone else is really worth it.
5. Thrifting as a new form of fast fashion
While a main draw to buying second-hand is getting away from modern day fast fashion practices, it is important to consider your buying patterns and just how many items you’re picking up.
With less expensive prices, it is no wonder that people walk out with piece upon piece but when it comes to higher-income consumers, this can become tricky. Because we tend to look at price when determining the value of an item, clothing that is purchased at a lower cost may be considered to be less valuable. This can mean that consumers are purchasing at a high volume and not taking as much care of their thrifted clothes, yielding a higher discard rate, both being hallmarks of fast fashion.
Think about this when you are shopping -- are you buying for the sake of buying? Will you value the items that you’re taking home or will they have a quick turnover rate?
This ties back into going in with a plan, staying on track, buying what you need, and not purchasing in excess.
Ultimately, go in thinking about how your own needs differ from the needs of others. Something that you may thoughtlessly toss into your basket as another unique item to add to your wardrobe, may be something that another person desperately needs and can only afford at thrift shop prices.
With all of this in mind, go forth being fabulous and looking out for everyone!