1. Uniqueness.
One of the most obvious reasons to shop at thrift stores is to find unique vintage pieces that you could never buy in a typical store. This ranges from both clothing to homeware, like drinking glasses and vinyl records. It’s the best way to find a one-of-a-kind look and you’ll never have to worry about showing up in the same outfit as someone else ever again.
2. The DIY possibilities are endless.
When thrift shopping, there is usually only one of each item, which means a shirt might not fit exactly right or look exactly how you want it to. The low cost of secondhand items allows you to take a risk and buy that not so perfect garment and turn it into a one-of-a-kind piece that’s personal to you. You can cute, dye, stud, sew and paint your garment until you love it.
Courtesy: Narcity
3. It’s better for the environment.
Another major reason you should shop at thrift stores is that it’s a form of recycling. The fast fashion industry produces extremely cheap clothing, but that $1.80 tank top from Forever 21 does not come without huge environmental costs. The excessive need for new raw materials and cheap labor puts a strain on the environments and people producing these items. I personally am very uncomfortable with the disposable life of overconsumption that we live out of convenience.
At a thrift store, you’re looking at recycled things that people have donated and it doesn’t support the production of new items. You have the opportunity to give old items new life and stop supporting the unsustainable business models of fast fashion brands like Forever 21, Topshop, H&M and Zara (to name only a few).
4. There are so many ways to shop.
In recent years, there has been a surge of online thrift shopping apps and websites. These platforms offer accessible interfaces and a helpful search option that allows you to find exactly what you’re looking for. Some of my personal favorite online thrift stores are Depop, Poshmark and Goodwill’s online shop. There are even thrift stores geared specifically toward current in-fashion styles like Plato’s Closet and Buffalo Exchange.
5. It’s cheap.
An obvious benefit of thrift shopping is that it’s thrifty! Secondhand stores are super cheap and even if you leave with an armful of stuff, you won’t leave with an empty wallet. Most clothing items at my personal favorite thrift store, Goodwill, are under $10 and most homewares are under $5. These prices rival those of fast fashion brands so there’s no competition in my eyes. Some even have student discounts and sales on certain days that make the prices even cheaper.
6. It’s like a treasure hunt!
What’s true with secondhand shopping is that you never know what you’re going to find. You might find amazing high waisted jeans that fit perfectly or you might find the craziest homemade embroidered jean vest with farm animals and glitter (speaking from experience here). But no matter what you find, you’ll have a great time doing it.
Whether you leave with an amazing piece that you scored for $6 or walk out empty handed with the memory of laughing with a friend over ridiculous styles from fashion’s past, you had an experience. I once bought my favorite sunflower mug at a Goodwill store and over three years later, I found the exact same sunflower print of four drinking glasses at another thrift store. Digging through the racks for a great find is exciting and, in my opinion, finding a cute item feels 10 times better when you’ve dug it out of a rack of 50 other duds.
7. It’s charitable.
Many thrift stores are run by charities and churches that use their profits to do good in the world. Spending your money at a charity shop rather than a fast fashion chain not only takes profit from a problematic industry but also pours money into efforts that help people. Goodwill particularly uses its profits and storefronts to support people who face barriers to getting a job. They offer training, job positions and all sorts of other support for people without education, veterans, people with disabilities and so many others.