Why Thrifting Is Better for the Planet, Your Wallet, & Style
Thrift shopping and purchasing second hand items is a great way to refresh your closet, lower your carbon footprint, and keep costs down.
In recent years, thrifting has received a lot of attention for creating unique style, shopping one of a kind vintage clothing, and creating an affordable way for conscious consumers to be part of the sustainable fashion movement.
While the ethical & sustainable fashion movement has highlighted some incredible fair fashion brands, shopping new socially responsible clothing tends to be a bit more expensive.
Thrifting can also go beyond fashion. Just about everything consumers buy can be purchased secondhand, from books to clothing to furniture and more.
From clothing to tech items, home decor, sporting goods, and more, these items can all be found nestled inside your local pawn shop, thrift store, antique shop, or a seasonal garage sale.
Is thrifting secondhand clothing better for the environment?
The thrifting phenomenon, either online or in person has significant environmental benefits that have captured the attention of eco-advocates.
But what are some of the impacts of thrifting? Thrifting is helping us more toward a more sustainable future! Let's explore!
THRIFTERS SEND LESS CLOTHING TO LANDFILLS
UC Berkley estimates that Americans send over 10 million pounds of clothing to landfills every year. When consumers purchase secondhand clothing this helps keep unwanted clothing out of landfills and extend the life cycle of the garment.
ThredUp found that the life of an item is extended by 2.2 years if sold secondhand, which reduces the carbon footprint by 73 percent.
Thrifters are also more likely to re-sell, donate, or upcycle their clothing rather than throw away items at the end of their lifecycle.
Essentially, thrifters create a more circular fashion system by buying second hand, reusing, and giving new life to unwanted goods.
THRIFTERS CONSERVE RESOURCES
Energy, water, materials, and land are all resources needed to produce new clothes. To create textiles materials must be grown, harvested and processed before being made into clothing.
It’s estimated that a single pair of jeans can use up to 1,800 gallons of water to grow enough cotton. Due to the growing trends within the fast fashion industry there have been higher demands for these resources in order to produce enough inventory and styles.
I’ve had this thrifted denim jacket for nine years!
By choosing to purchase secondhand clothing this acts as a buffer and helps slow the demand for fast fashion.
Shopping secondhand does not require virgin materials to be produced in order to satisfy customers because thrifters are taking part in circular fashion.
Thrift stores embrace the culture of reuse and re-love.
The more people who shop thrift the better, as it sends a message to everyone that secondhand is cool, and that it's important to care about the entire lifecycle of a piece of clothing.
UNIQUE VINTAGE STYLE THAT INSPIRES OTHERS
By shopping for clothes secondhand this is a great way to find unique pieces and create a fun sense of style.
When consumers are complimented on their one of a kind thrifted pieces, this starts the conversation and helps educate other consumers.
I got the unique blue and orange sweater secondhand! I love how it can add color to a simple outfit.
By spreading the word and encouraging others to thrift instead of purchasing new this can create a chain effect pushing others to join the circular fashion movement.
No longer do you have to purchase what's on trend right now (and some style cycles are not quite it!) by thrifting you can find clothes from decades ago or from a few years ago.
MORE AFFORDABLE PRICES
Second-hand clothing is already going to be more affordable than shopping department stores. One of the additional benefits of shopping from an online thrift shop is you can find luxury items at a discounted rate, way cheaper than the retail price.
Select places verify brands and make sure you're not only getting great deals, but getting the real deal and high quality items. It's the best way to shop designer clothing and accessories in a more sustainable manner (for your wallet and the planet).
Is Shopping Secondhand Trendy?
Circular fashion is particularly popular with the younger generations. In fact, 49% of Millennials and Generation Z say that they prefer to shop in the resale sector instead of shopping new due to the trend of unique style.
Business Insider reports that because Gen Z has grown up with the technology to price search and shop online their entire life, Gen Z is incredibly thrifty and are less loyal to brand names and more focused on finding the best deals.
While it may be unrealistic for some people to go zero-waste, thrifting is an approachable and accessible way to practice an eco-friendly habit.
Thrifting is a versatile market, and there is no one perfect customer or audience. Those under all incomes, age brackets, genders and identities can shop secondhand, making it an inclusive, money-saving, and sustainable habit for everyone.
Another bonus to thrifting? You get to stretch your creativity muscles and really figure out your style when shopping secondhand.
Scrolling through secondhand style idea on Pinterest or flipping through magazines to figure out what you want to look for and then getting that style to translate from thrifted finds is thrilling.
When you find a piece you love that is the right price and the right fit is like putting on a dress and realizing it has pockets. Ultimate joy.
Many thrift stores--online and in person--buy clothes right from their consumers. So, you often get to clear out your closet, de-clutter, and give a new home to a good piece of clothing or accessories that would otherwise sit in your home forgotten. The best part?
Pin this thrift shopping infographic for later!
When you sell your clothes you can opt for a cash or store-credit option, and often the store-credit is a higher value. You get to fund your new style with your untouched older clothes!
So, let's find your next favorite online thrift store! Check out our list of top online thrift stores to make your secondhand shopping easy!
More Thrift Shopping Guides:
MEET THE AUTHOR
Emily Waddell is the founder of The Honest Consumer and an expert in conscious consumerism. She has been in the ethical and sustainable living space for over ten years. Emily has always been passionate about business for good and has a Bachelor degree in Social Entrepreneurship. When she’s not writing, Emily enjoys supporting small businesses, finding locally grown food at the farmer’s market, & practicing slow living.
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