the impact of thrifting

Thrifting has quickly become increasingly popular with today’s teens and I have a few opinions. I myself have fallen into the craze of sifting through racks for discounted clothes, and moving into the eccentric style of secondhand clothes.

Five years ago, thrifting was not nearly as popular. Before that, thrifting was associated with a sense of embarrassment or shame for having to buy used clothes. Many people have expressed their discomfort towards influencers making thrifting “cool” or a trend, when just a little while back, people were ostracized or made fun of for not having brand new clothes.

Sustainability has also become a pressing issue and reason why many choose to shop secondhand. Personally, one of the main reasons I thrift is to be more sustainable. This also begs the question that why can’t large corporations be more sustainable in the production of their goods? Clothing goes through such long cycles, and I don’t think it is necessary to buy brand new goods every time you get sick of a shirt or it doesn’t fit anymore. I remember the cycle of some of my brother’s shirts went through; they first went to him (brand new), then after he grew too tall for them, I might take them if I liked the design, and finally after I was through with the shirt, it would be donated. By the time the shirts were donated, they were still in fine condition, which shows just how unnecessary and capitalized the clothing industry has become.

Gentrification always sits in my mind whenever I go thrifting. Part of me feels guilty for myself and all the other teens flocking to thrift stores, causing prices to be raised. I try to do my part by not buying certain items- suits, formal wear, or really any expensive item that I’m fortunate enough to afford. I also try to donate my old clothes back to the stores, to help keep the “cycle” of used clothes going. I have a real problem with teens who thrift for the sole purpose of reselling items on Depop or Instagram, when in reality it’s not fiscally necessary at all for them to do that. By taking clothes away from people who genuinely need them, or hiking the prices up just because something fits a certain “aesthetic”, they are ruining the cycle.

I also think that the “Thrift Fever” has hit Gen Z especially hard because of the universal desire to forge our own personal styles. Rather than go to the mall and buy the same cookie- cutter outfit that everyone else has, many teens are drawn to the idea of owning clothes that are literally one-of- a-kind and unique. Thrifting feels similar to a teen rebellion and by choosing to wear our own unique clothes and make our own trends, we are going against what a big company is telling us to do.

Thrifting also makes great financial sense. Of course the idea of buying secondhand was so that the less fortunate could afford clothes, but now the low prices that thrift stores flaunt are appealing to the teen budget. I can spend around thirty dollars in a thrift store and get a whole new set of clothes that I like, or go to the mall and spend two hundred dollars on a new set of clothes. The idea of cheap clothing makes me feel a lot less guilty when after a few months I realize I no longer like a certain style of clothes, and as a result I can donate my clothes back.

The phenomenon of thrifting is definitely upon us. Who would've guessed five years ago that the latest clothing trends from teens would come from secondhand stores littered with the unwanted garments of others? Thrifting has forged a unique style for many teens, including myself, and I’m definitely here for it.