Seven is a ridiculously limited number of reasons for buying secondhand clothing. Those of you who are already hooked know that there are hundreds of reasons. Those of you who are not on board yet, well…read on.
Recently, I had to admit that there was more of me this year than there was last year and no amount of sucking in my gut, lying on the bed, tugging and pulling was going to get last year’s clothes onto this year’s body. I stocked a new wardrobe of basics entirely through thrifting and consignment. Not only did doing it the secondhand way take the sting out of wearing a bigger size, it made me almost happy.
Although I have always been a thrifter, some good reasons to be cheerful about buying secondhand clothing gelled my tiny brain during the outfitting process. If you’re already a secondhand devotee, these will be preaching to the choir. These are aimed at people who are on the fence, people who like the idea of secondhand but aren’t ready to commit.
1 Become the Antithesis of Fast Fashion
It’s easy to fall in love with fast fashion. It’s on trend. It’s inexpensive. It’s everywhere. And it’s also made with lesser quality materials and construction techniques. It’s a fast fix that isn’t meant to last. A ballpark statistic is that Americans dispose of 11.3 million tons of discarded clothing (including new unsold goods and goods that are returned) per year. Out of that, only 15% are reused and recycled. A whopping 85% go to the landfill or incinerator, according to the US government. Buying secondhand clothing helps raise that paltry 15%.
2 Pay Less, Get Swagger
Although you can find clothes from big box stores at every thrift, make a pact with yourself to only buy things that are better brands and fibers. Things you might consider a splurge at original retail. If you can buy it at a big box for $15 or less, don’t buy it at a thrift for $5. It doesn’t have to be a designer label; getting a top that retails for $40-$60 for $6 is an awesome deal. If you shop consignment, getting a $500 dress for $100 is a steal.
3 Invest in Quality
Many vintage garments are better quality than modern pieces. Older clothing tends to have better construction and might be made from a better textile. Of course, there has always been inexpensive fashion, just because it’s older doesn’t guarantee it’s better, but it is more likely.
4 Make Your Own Statement
Rather than shopping trends that come and go, you can pick pieces with an interesting style that strikes your fancy. You won’t see carbon copies of yourself on every street.
5 Live for the Thrill
You pretty much know what to expect when you go to a mall store. You never know what you are going to find at a thrift, vintage store or consignment. You might find a party dress from the 1960s, a tunic from the 1990s and a pair of mom jeans worn by an actual mom from the early 2000s. Buying secondhand clothing can have a real adrenaline thrill when you score something amazing.
6 Support a Small Business
When you shop secondhand and vintage in boutiques, consignments or online, you are supporting an entrepreneur. And better yet, an entrepreneur who is making an income with things that are being cast off.
7 Support a Non-Profit
Many non-profits fund their missions through thrift shops. The big ones that come to mind are Goodwill, the Salvation Army and Habitat Restore (although not for clothes). Don’t neglect small ones like independent non-profits and church thrifts. Many non-profit sellers also sell online, though those can be hard to find.
Lots of thrift stores are for profit, both large and small. It doesn’t feel as good to shop there as it does at a non-profit, but they are providing employment and keeping things out of the landfill so there is still good being done.
8 Feel Liberated
Enjoy the feeling of liberation you get from buying secondhand clothing. You are not shackled to trends, you are not falling prey to the siren song of fast fashion, you are crafting your wardrobe from things that make you happy and you are benefiting the planet at the same time. You are awesome.
Why do you shop secondhand? What do you like about it and what don’t you like? Let us know in the comments.
Read more…
Why Clothes Are So Hard to Recycle, BBC.com
Your Clothes Can Have an Afterlife, National Institute of Standards and Technology, US Dept of Commerce.
The Spooky Possibility of Thrift Stores: Who’s getting rich off your secondhand stuff?, Salon.com
We share our 25 best tips for thrifting in general here.
