Secondhand Stores Offer Sustainable Shopping
The Pony Express Editorial Board
The Pony Express Editorial Board
The popularization of thrifting in recent years has destigmatized secondhand shopping and has encouraged more people to shop sustainably. Not only will this have a positive environmental effect, but this also makes secondhand clothes more accessible as thrift stores pop up in large numbers all over the country in response to the increasing demand.
Although there are many positives to this thrifting trend, it comes with its downfalls, ones that we didn’t see until the rise of thrifiting’s popularity. As it’s become more popular, the prices have skyrocketed which harms people who actually need these clothes for their affordable prices.
Generation Z and Millennials are buying secondhand clothing at a rate of two-and-a-half times faster than Generation X and Baby Boomers in 2019 compared to 2017. This has caused thrift store prices to go up more than 15% in the United States within the last 3 years.
Thrift stores were originally made to help people with less financial stability be able to afford apparel and other household items, a basic human necessity, but the recent surge in its admiration has shown that the people who really depend on secondhand apparel are left out to dry as prices rise.
All the while, more people are thrifting just because of its newfound “trendiness” rather than out of necessity. What started as a trend to purchase clothes more sustainably and at more reasonable prices has turned into a trend fueled by over consumerism.
We’re definitely not saying to abandon thrift shopping, in fact far from it. A positive view of thrifting is still really important, and has lots of benefits. It allows people who need to buy secondhand due to monetary or resource constraints to feel less ashamed.
It also promotes sustainability within the fashion industry by reusing or repurposing clothes that would have otherwise been thrown away. It also helps cut down on the manufacturing of goods as there is an increase in demand for secondhand clothes and a decrease in demand for fast fashion. Even a small cut back on fast fashion purchases can help protect the environment and provide business to local stores and charities instead of multinational corporations.
There is disagreement about whether or not thrifting is helpful to the environment. In a recent poll done by The Pony Express, 13 out of 30 people who self-selected into the survey disagreed that thrifting helps the environment.
However, it has been proven time and time again that thrifting is good for the planet. Just the process of growing one kilogram of cotton takes at least 10,000 liters of water. So by reusing and repurchasing something as simple as a used cotton t-shirt rather than buying a new one can save thousands of liters of water.
Thrifting can also help minimize the chemical pollution caused by clothing production and shipment. Most thrift stores take local donations rather than shipping clothes across the world from international manufacturers. The shipping of clothes, whether it be by ship or plane, has a huge carbon footprint which thrift stores help mitigate.
Although overconsumption can make any sustainable purchase bad, you shouldn’t be dissuaded from shopping secondhand as long as you do it in moderation. Thrifting can be a great way to explore new styles and find unique clothes that allow you to express your individuality.
Although there are many positives to this thrifting trend, it comes with its downfalls, ones that we didn’t see until the rise of thrifiting’s popularity. As it’s become more popular, the prices have skyrocketed which harms people who actually need these clothes for their affordable prices.
Generation Z and Millennials are buying secondhand clothing at a rate of two-and-a-half times faster than Generation X and Baby Boomers in 2019 compared to 2017. This has caused thrift store prices to go up more than 15% in the United States within the last 3 years.
Thrift stores were originally made to help people with less financial stability be able to afford apparel and other household items, a basic human necessity, but the recent surge in its admiration has shown that the people who really depend on secondhand apparel are left out to dry as prices rise.
All the while, more people are thrifting just because of its newfound “trendiness” rather than out of necessity. What started as a trend to purchase clothes more sustainably and at more reasonable prices has turned into a trend fueled by over consumerism.
We’re definitely not saying to abandon thrift shopping, in fact far from it. A positive view of thrifting is still really important, and has lots of benefits. It allows people who need to buy secondhand due to monetary or resource constraints to feel less ashamed.
It also promotes sustainability within the fashion industry by reusing or repurposing clothes that would have otherwise been thrown away. It also helps cut down on the manufacturing of goods as there is an increase in demand for secondhand clothes and a decrease in demand for fast fashion. Even a small cut back on fast fashion purchases can help protect the environment and provide business to local stores and charities instead of multinational corporations.
There is disagreement about whether or not thrifting is helpful to the environment. In a recent poll done by The Pony Express, 13 out of 30 people who self-selected into the survey disagreed that thrifting helps the environment.
However, it has been proven time and time again that thrifting is good for the planet. Just the process of growing one kilogram of cotton takes at least 10,000 liters of water. So by reusing and repurchasing something as simple as a used cotton t-shirt rather than buying a new one can save thousands of liters of water.
Thrifting can also help minimize the chemical pollution caused by clothing production and shipment. Most thrift stores take local donations rather than shipping clothes across the world from international manufacturers. The shipping of clothes, whether it be by ship or plane, has a huge carbon footprint which thrift stores help mitigate.
Although overconsumption can make any sustainable purchase bad, you shouldn’t be dissuaded from shopping secondhand as long as you do it in moderation. Thrifting can be a great way to explore new styles and find unique clothes that allow you to express your individuality.