A word worthy of hashtags, “thrifting” has been trending on every social media post, right from the likes of a commoner to a celebrity. To those who caught on the trend via social media or heard about it in passing, this article aims to be your guiding light. Let’s begin with the most clichéd question.
What is thrifting?
In layman terms, going thrifting means to go shopping for pre-loved clothes. It is the process of finding gently used items at discounted prices. Thrifted items are those that have been loved by the previous owner but are in good condition to be useful to a new owner. Thrifting is a more sustainable and eco-friendlier alternative to fast fashion. Onto a very obvious follow-up question.
Where do you go thrifting?
Traditionally, you go thrifting at charity shops, garage sales, or flea markets. But recently, thrift stores have become quite the rage. A thrift store is a retail store that specializes in selling unique pre-owned goods, which are often donated by individuals or organizations, and the items found are sold at a much lower price than what one would find at branded retail stores.
In most recent times, with the commoner’s ever increasing need to shop at their own leisure and convenience, minus the hassle of navigating crowds, a new breed of online thrift stores have established and come to be a flourishing success.
Online thrifting, in its most obvious sense, takes the joys of thrifting and makes it accessible from your couch. It is not only easier to buy clothes, but also to sell your own clothes with the introduction of online thrifting. Imagine being able to view, explore and buy a variety of unique, one-of-a-kind vintage pieces of clothing for discounted prices, all while sitting at the comfort of your own home with a cup of coffee in hand! Consider me sold!
What makes online thrifting even more appealing is the lack of geographic limitations. The luxury of being able to thrift from various global marketplaces gives you limitless choices, more competitive prices, and quality of products.
Now that you have understood what thrifting is, it’s only natural to wonder.
Why thrifting over fast fashion and retail shopping?
Sustainability
With the power of social media, thrifting has become a conscious choice made by the younger generations towards a more eco friendly world. Fast fashion with its rapid consumption and reproduction cycles have unleashed a devastating impact on our environment. By choosing to give clothes a longer lifespan, you contribute to a smaller carbon footprint, hence helping us beat the vicious cycle of fast fashion. Hence, thrifting becomes a more sustainable and responsible form of fashion
Budget friendly
If you wish to own designer goods without the hefty price tags, thrifting is your secret weapon to do so without breaking the bank. As you browse thrift stores and online thrifting platforms, you'll be truly amazed at the high-quality items you can discover at a fraction of their original cost. It's truly a win-win!
Unique style
Thrifting enables you to browse and buy pieces of clothing that helps you
hone your individual style and stand out from the crowd. The thrifting experience in itself can feel like a treasure hunt where you are drawn to unique items that will reflect your personality and can ignite the creative spirit in you.
While these are just a few reasons of why I am a converted thrifter, I hope this post gives you the push to give thrifting a try (if you haven’t already) and come up with your personal favorite reasons to thrift. As they say - once you go thrifting, there is no going back.
Happy Thrifting!