If you haven’t made an Instagram account to resell clothing during the pandemic, you probably know someone who has. While some sellers are simply cleaning their closets, others have taken it a step further by cheaply sourcing their products from thrift stores. But is this latter practice ethical? Here are the thoughts that went through my head as I contemplated making the purchase.
This shirt is so cute! But if I buy this, am I depriving someone from a low income community of an affordable clothing option?
With thrifting becoming trendy and losing stigma, it’s important to recognize the privilege that comes with having the option to thrift. A threadUP report found that the percentage of women over 18 who have bought or are open to buying second hand products in the future has jumped from 45% in 2016 to 70% in 2019. The customer base is expanding from those who are thrifting to exclusively fulfill a need to those who are thrifting for fun or to snag a deal.
So if there are more shoppers, are there less clothes? The amount (and quality) of garments can vary with location, but as a whole, there are many stores across the country that have experienced a surge of donations since COVID-19 hit. (Check out stories from these shops in Ohio, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.) After all, it does make sense. Stay at home orders have led people to clean out their closets, and they consequently bring their items to a second hand store.
Despite the challenges that these shops have been faced with (reducing staff, limiting the amount of customers in the store, or having to shut down entirely), it seems as though the high supply and high demand has generated a positive feedback loop where there are enough garmets to go around. Right now, a lot of people are buying (or open to buying), and there are also a lot of people donating.
In this way, as long as shoppers are mindful about their purchases and not recklessly raiding the racks, anyone should be able to have an equal opportunity to an affordable clothing option.
Alright, I don’t feel as guilty about that now. And thrifting is also good for the environment, right?
Yes! The fashion industry can be incredibly wasteful, but thrifting is eco-friendly. Another threadUP report found that 1 in 2 people throw their unwanted clothes in the trash, amounting to 32 billion garments ending up in landfills each year. (Yikes!) Even if a portion of these garments were donated to thrift stores, a vast difference could be made with the amount of textile waste that is produced. Plus, when you thrift, you’re able to prevent all of the resources that went into making and transporting the garments from being wasted, as well. The fashion industry produces roughly 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions every year, and by thrifting, you won’t be adding nearly as much to that figure. The benefits to sustainable shopping are undeniably present.
Okay, that makes sense! And look at the rest of this account! I respect the grind.
It may look easy to run an Instagram account as a seller, but there is definitely a lot more that goes on behind the scenes. There is a great amount of time that goes into hunting for clothes with a high resale value, taking attractive photographs of the item, engaging with followers, and ensuring customer satisfaction. And it’s especially cool when the person running one of these small businesses is one of your friends! To balance all of these tasks, and to do them well, is admirable.
Anyways, I am so convinced to get this shirt now. But I’m going to give the account a final vibe check.
Is the price reasonable? Does the seller seem legit (if it’s not someone who you personally know)? Some accounts have reviews that can be accessed through the saved stories, and they can be a pretty good indicator of the quality of the business. When in doubt, you can always send a DM to the seller with additional questions. Or just trust your gut.
In the end, I bought the shirt! I love a good deal, and I put a high regard on helping others and being environmentally friendly. I know that it’s impossible to know absolutely everything about the things I buy, but I still try to stay as informed as possible.
These Instagram business accounts can be evaluated on a case by case basis, but as the pandemic continutes, it’s safe to say that they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.