The THRILL of the thrift
When I was a kid, I remember going to Value Village with my mom. As I bopped around aisle to aisle, trying on shoes and testing all the furniture, she was in the racks, doing the work. She went through the clothes one at a time, trying to find the pieces that spoke to her. I always got bored long before she was finished with her hunt. The squeak of hangers sliding across the racks is still comforting to me to this day. (Is this insane? lol)
Now you'll have to imagine me wagging my finger when I say this: Thrift stores aren't what they used to be. But it's true!
Donating used to be seen as the most ethical way to get rid of our clothes. But today, thrift stores are being overrun with donations. As fast fashion generates clothes faster than people can wear them, our beloved Goodwills cannot keep up with the volume. People are using thrift stores as their own personal dumpsters. But it's okay, because they're donated, right?
Well... not really. More and more unsold donations are being sent to the landfill or shipped overseas to clog up other countries' landfills and beaches.
So before we jump to donating as a solution for culling our clothes, we have to take responsibility for our own clothing consumption. We can do things like mending or transforming our clothes into something we actually want to wear. If the pieces still don't work for us, but the quality is still good,then we can look to donating or selling them.
For the clothes that are damaged and worn through, it's very tempting to say to ourselves, "Well, I'm sure someone could use this" and throw them in the donation pile as well. But statistics show that the majority of donated items end up in the landfill, so when we donate "trash," we're removing the responsibility from ourselves and putting it on someone else.
So when it comes to donating, let's give only the most sellable items and take the rest to the dumpster (or a textile recycling facility) ourselves. Taking on this responsibility will, in turn, help us be more responsible consumers.
When it comes to thrifting, there's another strategy we can use for maintaining a sustainable wardrobe: thrifting what we need before buying new.
Without a doubt, some things need to be purchased new (like underwear, etc. 😉). But as an avid thrifter, there are some categories of items I see at the thrift store no matter the season.
So before you hop online to shop new, here are some pieces we think are better second-hand.
LEATHER
When leather is maintained, it can last a lifetime. But for some people, the upkeep is too much, and you'll see all sorts of leather items just waiting for a revival. A little elbow grease and leather conditioner can bring all sorts of bags, wallets, belts, vests, and jackets back to life.
DENIM
Good denim can last a lifetime. Are we seeing a trend? Amongst a rack of stretched-out elastic denim pants, you may just find some good 100% cotton denim pieces that you can tailor to your body, for a fraction of the cost of new denim.
SEQUINS
If you're looking for a glitzy, flashy piece for a special occasion, secondhand stores always have what you need. If we're honest with ourselves, do we need to buy a brand new sequinned piece that we'll wear a handful of times? Buying these items new also tells the industry to keep on producing wearable plastic. We don't need any more.
HALLOWEEN COSTUMES
This is a thrift store's time to shine, baby! Most packaged Halloween costumes are completely made of plastic, and since they're only worn one night of the year, costume manufacturers are basically pumping out garbage. Many of them end up at Goodwill, where they're brought out for next year's Halloween season. So whether you're looking for an out-of-the-box costume or to build one from scratch, a thrift probably has what you need. (In the same vein, you can find some great vintage Christmas decorations rather than buying something new and cheap.)
OVERSIZED/VINTAGE TEES
Big is in! And thrift racks are full of big tees. I'm no stranger to making a crop top from a random graphic tee from the men's section. One caveat would be to be mindful of consumption in this department to ensure there are plenty of items for folks in bigger bodies.
BLAZERS/TRENCH COATS/JACKETS
Brand new coats can be huge investments, so finding something in great condition for a fraction of the cost feels like such a win! Jackets have a lot of life in them, and thrift stores typically have a good collection of options.
Today I still bop around the thrift store across the street (#blessed). I strap my baby to my chest and look for items as long as he will let me. These days, my hidden gems come to me as baby brands. But every once in a while, as I look for myself, I find something that calls to me. And I see it as my duty to save these pieces from the landfill. 🫡
Lately I've been looking for items with a little something-something. Most of my investment pieces are high-quality basics I can wear all the time, so I look to the thrift for a punch of whimsy or flair at an affordable price. Recently, the Thrift Gods heard my wish and sent me this vintage rooster 100% cotton button-up. I'm obsessed!