I Buy Most Of My Wardrobe Second Hand And I Only See The Benefits
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

I Buy Most Of My Wardrobe Second Hand And I Only See The Benefits

There's nothing wrong with making thrift shopping a lifestyle.

137
I Buy Most Of My Wardrobe Second Hand And I Only See The Benefits
Photo by Sara Thompson

There is more clothing being sold in America and for a cheaper price than ever before. However, purchasing clothing secondhand comes with many benefits for the consumer and the world as a whole that are often overlooked.

Though it may seem that we are in an age of environmental activism, the fast fashion trend had been increasing rapidly, putting the fashion industry second only to energy harvesting in polluting the environment. The harsh chemicals and appalling working conditions required to manufacture such a vast amount of clothing for the cheap prices seen in stores is destructive to both the environment and the laborers sewing the clothing.

Thrifting is a more sustainable alternative to fueling the fast fashion industry, as buying something second-hand keeps it out of landfills and negates the need to manufacture something totally new. Of course, it can be necessary to buy something new from the store at times, but hopefully, more Americans will look towards secondhand clothing as a viable resource and buy fewer, more quality new items, which will last for a long time and eventually be recycled into someone else's closet as well.

An additional benefit of thrifting is the greatly reduced prices. Although some boutiques may retain high prices for items deemed "vintage" or "couture," many organizations drastically decrease the price of products using various methods.

Two of the most common business models are exemplified by popular chains Plato's Closet and Goodwill; the former discounts clothing based on a percentage of the original retail rate, usually resulting in prices between $5 and $20, while Goodwill has primarily standardized prices, enabling shoppers to purchase both brand name products and cheap clothing at the same rate. Either way, secondhand stores make it feasible to buy quality items for cheaper than the cost of often lesser quality new clothing.

Another cool benefit of shopping in thrift stores is how quirky some of the pieces are! There are plenty of basics and trendy clothes that can be found as well, but some of the vintage and eccentric pieces can only be found in thrift stores without the high costs of boutiques or indie stores such as Urban Outfitters which capitalize on the lack of funky clothing found in traditional modern retail stores. For those active in the resurgence of retro styles coming back into fashion, thrift stores are also a perfect place to shop for legitimate pieces from the past.

Because clothing from thrift stores is so cheap, it is also a great source to get clothing for refashioning projects. With the rise of applications that foster creativity and DIY solutions such as Pinterest, more people are turning to restyling clothes themselves in order to create a more individualized look that cannot be found in stores. Using basic sewing methods or even no-sew hacks for those without a machine, anyone can perform simple changes to make a previously ugly garment into something stylish, and while it may be intimidating to deconstruct a new piece of clothing, revitalizing an inexpensive second-hand piece can be much less so.

Thrift shopping not only discourages the negative effects of fast fashion on both humans and the environment but also enables people to buy unique, well-made pieces for a reasonable price.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

55362
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

35671
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

957713
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

185504
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments