Thrift-shopping And Its Impact On Sustainability

Environmental and Fashion-forward, the concept of re-imagining clothing from the past might be the best option for your journey into discovering a personalized style.
lifestyle · 2 min
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Thrifting is a trend that has been around longer than you think. Though many consider it to be for those who look for granny clothes and vintage apparel, the stores are known for holding treasures of the untold. Within these warehouses of the pre-owned clothes, their lies different styles and selections timeless to unassuming customers. They range from priceless to yard sale but are an adventure to find in an infinite store of mismatched styles. 

A story of my own comes from a trip with a friend in college to Atlanta's Goodwill off of Midtown. With many exceptions to the outdated clothes that definitely stood out, I began finding marked down clothes to try on. Once my friend and I had a handful for us both, we made our way to the dressing room to show off what we picked. Not only was it fun to see what fit right on each other, but we also tried on some of each other's picks to see how our styles differed from one another. We were able to get quite a few clothes for a cheap price despite some of the clothes being from nice brands and having good quality fabrics. 

If that doesn't seem like your type of fun, the furniture, and home goods sections may provide solace for the weary Maxxinistas of the strip mall. Objects range from your scary aunt's house to minimalist chic for the frugal budget of a grad with a studio apartment. They have artwork and knickknacks that are always entertaining to look at. Some are quite odd but never cease to amaze. It can be like glancing into someone else's life through their belongings. 

The last maybe most important aspect is that it saves a lot from fast fashion and its impact on the environment. Not only does the fast fashion industry from brands like Zara, SHEIN, H&M, and countless others market their work to seem affordable for others when they enlist shady conditions to attain their goals.

Sweatshop work areas, synthetic materials, and many sources depleting actions make up the world of these fashion companies on the rise. It is better to find what style fits you through countless eras of other clothes that already resemble what is on the current rack at the outlet mall. You normally get better quality that lasts and maintains its use for others that can repeat the process.

Going to get a new pair of tights or shoes is not going to cause the universe to smite you for buying something new, but it can't hurt to look for your clothes and home goods in a more sustainable way. It can be done in multiple ways by getting family hand-me-downs, going to the local second-hand store, or exchanging among other friends. Have fun and get thrifting!

clothes at a thrift store
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Opinions and Perspectives

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SimpleLivingJoy commented SimpleLivingJoy 3 years ago

Great article but they forgot to mention how addictive thrifting can be!

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SelfLoveClub commented SelfLoveClub 3 years ago

Never thought I'd be a thrifter, but now I'm hooked. Can't beat the prices.

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Radiate_Confidence_360 commented Radiate_Confidence_360 3 years ago

Those scary aunt decorations mentioned in the article are my favorite finds!

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Emily-Claire commented Emily-Claire 3 years ago

Shopping second-hand has completely changed my perspective on consumption.

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EmmaL commented EmmaL 3 years ago

The article's spot on about fast fashion. We need to break the cycle.

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PureBliss_Vibes_360 commented PureBliss_Vibes_360 3 years ago

I love introducing friends to thrifting. Their first big find is always exciting.

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MindfulMunchies commented MindfulMunchies 3 years ago

It's becoming harder to find good deals with inflation hitting thrift stores too.

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GlitchOverlord commented GlitchOverlord 3 years ago

The seasonal turnover at thrift stores is amazing. Always something new to discover.

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RebelGlitch commented RebelGlitch 3 years ago

Finding your style through thrifting is more rewarding than following trends.

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Rhea_Blossom commented Rhea_Blossom 3 years ago

Remember to wash everything before wearing! Can't stress this enough.

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CelestialKnight commented CelestialKnight 3 years ago

Sometimes I find things with sentimental value. Makes me wonder about their story.

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NataliaM commented NataliaM 4 years ago

I'm surprised the article didn't mention online thrift stores. They're getting popular too.

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Gabriella_64 commented Gabriella_64 4 years ago

The article's right about better quality lasting longer. My thrifted clothes outlast my new ones.

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Stephanie-Maddox commented Stephanie-Maddox 4 years ago

Love finding vintage band tees. They don't make them like that anymore.

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Maren99 commented Maren99 4 years ago

Best tip I learned was to check rich neighborhoods for better donations.

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Faith_67 commented Faith_67 4 years ago

Not everyone has time to hunt through racks. Sometimes you need something specific right away.

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Shannon-Boyd commented Shannon-Boyd 4 years ago

Started thrifting to save money, stayed for the environmental benefits.

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HikeMoreWorryLess commented HikeMoreWorryLess 4 years ago

The knickknack section is my guilty pleasure. So many random treasures.

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CelesteBishop commented CelesteBishop 4 years ago

I've furnished three apartments with thrift store finds. Saved thousands of dollars.

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Stephanopoulos_Stories commented Stephanopoulos_Stories 4 years ago

Nothing better than finding brand new items with tags still attached!

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Valentina-Robbins commented Valentina-Robbins 4 years ago

The article could have mentioned how to spot quality pieces when thrifting.

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Tyler_1991 commented Tyler_1991 4 years ago

It's true about fast fashion's shady practices. I feel better buying second-hand.

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Livia_Crystal commented Livia_Crystal 4 years ago

Found my favorite coffee table while thrifting. Just needed a fresh coat of paint.

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Lauryn99 commented Lauryn99 4 years ago

I love that thrifting reduces waste, but let's be honest, some things should just be thrown away.

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Juliette_Flower commented Juliette_Flower 4 years ago

The quality of vintage clothes is incredible compared to what's made today.

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Oliver-John commented Oliver-John 4 years ago

Thrifting takes patience. You can't go in expecting to find specific items.

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Blake_1986 commented Blake_1986 4 years ago

I'm always amazed by the weird art you can find at thrift stores. Some of it is so bad it's good.

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Leo commented Leo 4 years ago

The article makes a good point about looking through different eras of fashion. Styles always come back around.

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HollandM commented HollandM 4 years ago

I've started checking thrift stores before buying anything new. It's become a habit.

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Renee99 commented Renee99 4 years ago

The home goods section is dangerous for my wallet. I always find something I didn't know I needed.

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BalancedBeing commented BalancedBeing 4 years ago

Some of us can't afford to be picky about where we shop. Thrift stores are a necessity, not a trend.

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GregB commented GregB 4 years ago

Nothing beats the thrill of finding designer items at thrift store prices!

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JohnSmith commented JohnSmith 4 years ago

I appreciate the article mentioning fast fashion's impact. People need to understand the real cost of cheap clothes.

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ThomasSullivan commented ThomasSullivan 4 years ago

My best find was a vintage leather jacket for $20. Still wear it 5 years later.

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AubrielleS commented AubrielleS 4 years ago

The furniture section is hit or miss. Sometimes you find amazing pieces, other times it's all broken Ikea stuff.

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Mia_Giggles commented Mia_Giggles 4 years ago

Anyone else noticed thrift stores are getting more organized? Mine now sorts by size and color.

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SebastianClark commented SebastianClark 4 years ago

I wish more people would donate their nice clothes instead of trying to sell everything online.

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JamesMoore commented JamesMoore 4 years ago

The article's right about finding better quality. My thrifted jeans from the 90s have outlasted anything I've bought new.

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VictoriaB commented VictoriaB 4 years ago

You really can't beat the prices. I dressed my kids in thrift store clothes until they started caring about brands.

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Breathe-And_Balance commented Breathe-And_Balance 4 years ago

I've started hosting clothing swaps with my friends instead of thrifting. It's free and more personal.

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Balanced-Bites_X commented Balanced-Bites_X 4 years ago

Been thrifting for years and the quality has definitely gone downhill. Too many fast fashion items nowadays.

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Lexi-Ayers commented Lexi-Ayers 4 years ago

The article should have mentioned how thrifting helps local charities. Many stores support great causes.

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Riley commented Riley 4 years ago

I'm torn about thrifting. Yes it's sustainable, but sometimes the clothes smell musty and I can't get past that.

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VirtualRebel commented VirtualRebel 4 years ago

I found my wedding dress at a thrift store for $75. It was designer and fit perfectly after minor alterations.

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Friedman_Feature commented Friedman_Feature 4 years ago

The problem is resellers who buy up all the good stuff and mark it up online. They're ruining it for everyone else.

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LenaCooks commented LenaCooks 4 years ago

Going thrifting with friends is such a fun activity. We make a whole day of it and grab lunch afterward.

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Mindset-Shifter_77 commented Mindset-Shifter_77 4 years ago

My grandmother taught me to thrift shop in the 80s. It's funny how it's become trendy now.

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QuantumPulse commented QuantumPulse 4 years ago

The article didn't mention bed bugs or other risks. We need to be careful when buying second-hand furniture.

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Lena_Sunset commented Lena_Sunset 4 years ago

Not all thrift stores are created equal though. Some have gotten really expensive lately, especially in trendy areas.

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Kara-Powell commented Kara-Powell 4 years ago

I agree about the furniture section! My entire apartment is furnished with thrift store finds and everyone compliments my vintage style.

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Barnes_Broadcast commented Barnes_Broadcast 4 years ago

The article mentions Atlanta's Goodwill, but honestly the best thrift stores are usually in smaller towns where there's less competition.

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Veronica99 commented Veronica99 4 years ago

Interesting point about looking into someone's life through their belongings. I never thought about thrifting that way before.

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ViralStormX commented ViralStormX 4 years ago

The environmental impact of fast fashion is worse than most people realize. We really need to rethink our shopping habits.

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Celeste_Flare commented Celeste_Flare 4 years ago

While I understand the sustainability aspect, I find it difficult to spend hours searching through racks. Sometimes fast fashion is just more convenient for my lifestyle.

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Raven_Moon commented Raven_Moon 4 years ago

The quality of clothes you can find at thrift stores is amazing. Just last week I found a cashmere sweater for $8 that still had its original tags!

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Whitney-Burke commented Whitney-Burke 4 years ago

I absolutely love thrifting! It's like a treasure hunt every time I walk into a store. The article really captures that feeling of adventure.

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