In recent years, there has been an uprising. This uprising has taken the world by storm changing the name of fashion as we know it. Thrifting, once seen as the cheap alternative to traditional brick and mortar stores, has become a popular way to get creative, one-of-a-kind clothes. I thrift the majority of my clothing at local thrift shops and Goodwill. Here are a few benefits of thrifting you may not have thought about.
- It is environmentally friendly
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A lot of affordable clothing tends to be hard on the environment. Each year, a lot of usable clothing is thrown away because the owner just doesn’t want it anymore. Sometimes it’s no longer in fashion, maybe the person doesn’t fit in it anymore, or it has minor damage. By reusing clothing and getting it at thrift stores, we can lower the demand for new clothing and keep usable clothing out of landfills.
- It does not support the fast fashion industry
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One big criticism of the fashion industry is the use of sweatshops to make cheap clothing. I like a good deal as much as the next girl, but I am a little weary to support industries with such harsh working conditions. Some companies are cruelty-free, but they are not always affordable or available if you prefer buying your clothes in person. Buying the clothes used means that you won’t support sweatshops, while still having access to affordable clothing.
- You can find some incredible gems if you hunt for them
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There are entire subreddits and Facebook pages dedicated to thrift store finds. Sometimes they are wacky items somebody found or are amazing items at fantastic prices. For example, I purchased a full-length ballgown for $6 during the formal off-season at a local thrift store. Every time you enter a thrift store, you never know what you are going to find, except there is a 99% chance you will find Twilight somewhere in the store if they sell books or movies as well.
Overall, thrifting is a wonderful thing to do for a number of reasons. I hope that this inspires you to thrift when you can to make a happier and safer tomorrow. No matter what your reasoning, there is something good about it for everyone.