It is always fun to refresh our wardrobes and find pieces that speak to us. It is beneficial to note that we are able to do this in a way that is both sustainable and affordable, so that we are reducing our environmental footprint and shopping in a cost-effective way. There are so many garments out in the world, so why not extend their lives? In doing this, we are reducing the amount of clothing sent to landfills. Thrift stores are a great resource that we as a community can utilize for unique and environmentally friendly fashion!
There are more kinds of thrift stores out there than you probably think! As much as there may be some great finds at larger chain thrift stores, the prices can be expensive. If you’re looking for affordable alternatives, I would highly recommend church thrift shops and charity shops.
There was one church thrift shop near my high school that I went to on the weekends. You do not have to be affiliated with the church to go to these shops, as they are open to everybody! It was run by a very sweet group of women, and all of the items were organized beautifully. I found the most gorgeous skirts there! I was able to add some pieces to my wardrobe that really represented me, while also being very affordable. Plus, I was able to connect with the local members of my community.
At my high school, I worked on creating a free thrift closet for the student body. Our team would collect donations and pick out items that we thought would be well-liked by the student population. Everybody in our school community was welcome to go to the closet and pick out some free garments! We gave out reusable shopping bags, and had many items available aside from clothing, like new and unopened hygiene products, beauty products, and perfumes. It was a great way to help out the local community, and to help give items another life.
I always think that shopping locally is a good idea. Instead of supporting big corporations, we can help local communities thrive. I have seen small businesses curate collections of unique, vintage clothing to sell. Whenever I find a true vintage piece on my thrifting journeys, I am very excited. Another thing that has become popular in many small businesses is the concept of thrift-flipping. Many artists will take thrifted items and turn them into a piece of their own! This allows for creativity, and makes for one of a kind pieces. In thrift-flipping, you can use sewing skills and find things like gems or other embellishments to customize the piece! Supporting small artists and business owners is another great way to contribute to our community.
There are other ways to sustainably update our wardrobes that do not include spending money, though. If you have skills in clothing design, or want to learn, you can thrift flip your own pieces! There may be something just sitting in your closet that you have not worn in years, or there could be a fabric sitting in your basement that has no use. You can take these items and combine them to create a one of a kind piece. You can also keep your clothes for a possible new outfit or creation, or donate them to pass them on! Avoid throwing away clothing, because somebody might really love something that you were planning to get rid of. I think that there is always something creative we can do with our clothing.
There are a variety of community resources available for secondhand clothes, including thrift stores, clothing drives, and community closets. Do something unique with your clothing, and come up with styles that make you feel like yourself. Taking a risk in fashion may just be the gateway to finding out how you like to dress! If something turns out not to be your style, it could be perfect for somebody else! Help out your community whenever you are able, and try to shop local whenever you can.
Some of my favorite things to look out for while picking out secondhand clothes are unique patterns, long skirts, and button-up tops! What do you look for when picking out clothes?