Written by Rachael Willis
The fast fashion industry is one of the most environmentally damaging industries. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (2018), the fashion industry accounts for 20% of the world’s wastewater and 10% of its carbon emissions. The UN also warns that if no changes are made, the fashion industry could use up 25% of the world’s carbon budget. With these concerns in mind, many individuals are making the switch to shopping secondhand, myself included. Thrifting your wardrobe offers several benefits: you can shop sustainably without breaking the bank, get great deals on designer clothes, and find unique vintage items.
1. Thrifting is environmentally friendly
By shopping secondhand, you reduce your individual carbon footprint. The UN states that 10,000 liters of water are needed to produce a single pair of jeans. If you purchase a pair of jeans secondhand, you are essentially saving 10,000 liters of water from being wasted. In addition, purchasing thrifted goods saves those items from landfills. The UN (2018) points out that every second, one garbage truck full of clothing waste is dumped into a landfill. Thrift stores sell clothes that would otherwise be discarded and give them a second chance. Overall, buying clothes from a thrift or secondhand store reduces the environmental footprint of fashion consumption.
2. Thrift stores offer great deals on name brands
Furthermore, thrift store prices are rather low since all of the items are pre-owned. On my thrifting trips, I have found t-shirts for as little as $3. I have also occasionally found designer and name brand items for unbeatable prices. As someone who is rather cheap, I love shopping at thrift stores because I can get such great deals on clothing items. My local thrift store marks down items that have been on the floor for a few weeks to 50% off. Sometimes I can find a couple of hidden gems that are on sale.
3. Thrift stores are the perfect places to find unique clothing items
One of the joys of thrifting is the feeling of pure happiness when you find an incredible article of clothing. Most of my favorite items in my wardrobe are thrifted, like my yellow purse and my colorful sweater. I am in love with retro fashion. Thrift stores are homes to all kinds of quirky clothing items that you probably would not find anywhere else.
Needless to say, thrifting is an excellent alternative to shopping at fast fashion stores. Thrift stores are environmentally friendly and sell eccentric clothes for low costs. Next time you are in need of a new t-shirt or pair of jeans, think about checking out your local thrift store – you’ll be surprised by what you might find!
