Out With the Old…

Written by Cassidy Ratner

As a kid, I have vivid memories of dropping old clothes off that no longer fit at the Salvation Army and various thrift stores alike. It was not until my freshman year of college that the meaning of these stores shifted completely. Vintage thrifting, introduced to me by my friend from LA who was always on top of the latest trends, has since become an essential element of my wardrobe. From unique low rise jeans to otherwise impossible to find slip dresses, I was able to discover articles of clothing from the flea markets that could never be found in stores at such reasonable prices. 

Not only does thrifting provide rare finds that follow current trends, but it helps to combat today’s fast fashion industry. Quickly passing trends and exponentially quick production have led to a global crisis concerning textile waste and disregarded clothes caused by fast fashion. Although there has been an increasing number of sustainable fashion companies working against these issues, many of these companies are regarded as high end and far less affordable than fast fashion companies such as Forever 21 or H&M. However, the recent rise of thrifting has both encouraged reusing previously worn and owned clothes and given consumers a more affordable alternative to sustainable brands. 

Despite the numerous benefits to thrifting for the purpose of sustainability and style, the question arises of low-income consumers who predominantly have been predominantly relying on thrifting aside from these factors. The increasing popularity of thrift stores along with sites such as Depop or Poshmark have led to an overall increase in prices, making platforms that were designed to be affordable more expensive. Although thrifting is a sustainable substitute for fleeting trends sold through fast fashion brands and soon disregarded, it is essential to be mindful of its potential negative effects.