If you don’t already make a conscious effort to buy pre-loved items from thrift stores and online resale websites, now might be the time to start. Beyond the thrill of finding stylish name-brand items for incredibly cheap prices, thrifting significantly reduces your secondhand impact on the climate crisis. A United Nations report from 2018 revealed that we have an estimated eleven years to reduce our impact on the climate before catastrophic, irreversible changes occur. The fashion industry supplies an estimated 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions, making it a major contributor to climate change.
Thankfully, there are small steps you can take to help alleviate this rapid change. The shift to buying and selling thrifted clothes is totally easy (especially on your wallet), especially with the availability of online websites and resale apps. Plus, you can find total gems when thrifting, like retro styles from decades ago or a one-of-a-kind piece that no one else out there has. So, in light of making a small change wherever and whenever possible, here are some great stores and apps to help you get started on the upcycling life, quite literally, from your bed.
- Depop
-
I love Depop for its simplicity; both the app and website are straightforward with no frills or confusing layouts which makes buying and selling incredibly easy. If you’ve used Instagram before, then using Depop will be a breeze as the site is created to somewhat mimic the style of Instagram. I’ve purchased name brand and vintage clothes at prices way below current value, and have had great success selling my own hardly-worn items for some spare coffee money.
- Poshmark
-
Poshmark‘s app can feel a little cluttered and busy (pro tip: the website is more streamlined), but they have a huge selection of items and great buyer protection if you don’t end up getting what you paid for. I bought a pair of rock climbing shoes and they ended up being a full size smaller than what the seller had them listed as, but I was able to return them and receive a full refund! Simply put, you’re sure to find something that fits whatever you’re looking for.
-
One of my new favorite ways to thrift is through shops set up through Instagram. There are SO MANY and they all tend to have their own specific style, so it’s fun to find ones that match up with your own style, or something completely unique. Most shops take payments through Venmo or Paypal, and once you follow one that you like, Instagram will suggest similar accounts for you to search through. Some of my favorites are @stylishthriftfinds, @collegegirlthrift, @worldofthriftss, @thrifted_finds, and @raddthrift.
- ThredUp
-
While Depop and Poshmark will let you resell pretty much anything, ThredUp sticks specifically to fashion. ThredUp takes your donated clothes, and in turn, donates $5 to a charity of your choosing. Because they’re a dedicated business, you don’t have to worry about whether or not the clothes being sent to you have been cleaned recently.
Choosing sustainable options whenever and wherever we can will help alleviate our own environmental impact — shopping for clothes is just the most fun way to do it. Help the environment and get a cute new top for summer? Yes please, I’m all in.