Knowing how to thrift shop is a great tool to have in your life these days. Thrift shopping is one of the easiest ways to incorporate sustainable fashion into your daily life. I say this is a great practice to have right now and in the future because, according to McKinsey and Company The State of Fashion 2022, Gen Z is leading the way for sustainable fashion.
Around 43% of Gen Z shops with sustainability in mind, and they will spend at least 10% more on sustainable products, not just including fashion. But, the great thing about knowing how to thrift shop is that it is a much more affordable option for your wallet!
McKinsey and Company The State of Fashion 2022 also have researched that the fashion industry contributes to 4% of the world’s carbon emissions, and the fashion industry throws out about 92 million tons of clothing a year. Luckily, 60% of fashion administrators have planned to invest or have invested in using recyclable materials for their products.
Thrift shopping is very useful because it means that clothes that are being donated are not going to end up in landfills around the world. Shopping at thrift stores has also become very popular within the past couple years, and we have seen apps being developed such as: thredUP, Depop, and Poshmark where people can buy and sell clothes online, making it even more accessible for everyone.
On social media, videos and posts have gone viral that showcase “thrift shop hauls” and people teaching others on how to thrift shop as well. Fashion trends from the past are always making a comeback, which is why thrift shopping can be so easy to find unique pieces of clothing that no one else will have.
When first starting out thrift shopping and wanting to know how to thrift shop, the best items to look out for are really good vintage denim, which is oftentimes better quality than what stores are manufacturing now. When thrifting denim, there are endless amounts of ways to experiment with the jeans, shorts, or jackets you purchase thrifting.
Since you are not spending large amounts of money at thrift stores, you can cut, rip, and distress any piece of denim to have it fit the newest trend or just to make it your own, without having to purchase a brand new item that might only be worn a handful of times. Repurposing thrifted clothes is one way to give them a new life.
More “How to Thrift Shop Tips”
One tip my mom always gives me when I want to know how to thrift shop and find the best pieces like she always does is going straight to the blazers and coats. These clothing pieces are high ticket items that you can get at a fraction of the price. There are always so many to choose from in all different shapes and sizes.
Another great tip for learning how to thrift shop is finding out what days the store restocks and adds new items to their clothing racks. Having first pick on the new clothes will assure that you find the greatest deals.
Being patient while you sift through the endless racks of clothes to find that perfect piece is half the fun in thrift shopping, and you can have fun curating a sustainable wardrobe.
A bonus to helping your wardrobe, is that while knowing how to thrift shop, you are always supporting companies like Goodwill, Salvation Army, and churches that give back to the community.
One of the best things to do after thrift shopping is being able to donate your old clothing as well, so that someone else can find joy in it for longer. Like they say “one man’s trash, is another man’s treasure!”
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