Published on: April 24, 2019
This is not your typical fashion blog. Instead of fast fashion and the latest trends, I focus on secondhand and thrift shopping. I’ve been an avid “thrifter” for years, and I very rarely buy new clothes nowadays. Nothing beats the thrill of finding something you’ve been looking for in a thrift shop for a fraction of its original cost (the Sézane sweater I found a few weeks ago for less than 8 pounds– I’m talking about you)! I can’t wait to share some of this excitement with you and to give tips on finding quality pieces in secondhand stores.
Originally from Finland, I first got excited about thrifting when I was living in Nicaragua (yes, thrift shopping in Central America is awesome. I’ll talk more about this in my future posts). I was hooked immediately. When I moved to the US and lived on a grad student budget, visiting thrift and consignment stores quickly became my favorite hobby. I currently live in London, and thrifting and secondhand shopping here is amazing. I visit charity shops in different parts of London every weekend, and I’m looking forward to taking you along on these trips. Obviously, I am also super excited about the opportunity to show off my finds!
I used to resell, too, but due to a busy work schedule, I nowadays thrift mostly to add pieces to my own closet and to unwind. Considering my reseller background, however, the blog will also provide plenty of information that you might find useful if you’re thinking about thrift shopping to resell or even selling your own clothes online.
Why do I love thrift shopping, then (and why should you, too)?
Affordability
As I mentioned above, one of the things that initially drew me to thrift stores was their affordability. I’ve never been a fan of fast fashion clothing that I’d wear for a few times and then throw away. Instead, I’m always in search of long-lasting, good quality clothes. Unfortunately, they tend to come with a price tag that I haven’t been able or willing to pay. Thus, thrift stores have been a lifesaver for me.
Even if I might be able to afford a new quality piece every now and then nowadays, the secondhand gems I’ve found for a few bucks have spoiled me. I can’t even think of splurging several hundred dollars on a single piece of clothing. Plus, I’d miss all the fun of bargain hunting!
Sustainability
As you are probably aware, new clothes and particularly fast fashion come with a huge environmental and social cost (check out e.g. Andrew Morgan’s documentary “The True Cost” or Elizabeth Kline’s book “Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion“). E.g., in the EU, the amount of clothes purchased by an average person has increased by 40 % in the past decades, thanks to lower prices. The clothing industry is very carbon- and water-intensive. It produces roughly 10 % of the world’s CO2 emissions and thus is an important driver of climate change. Fast fashion is particularly problematic from an environmental point of view, considering the often bi-weekly changing collections. And obviously, the conditions in which these garments are produced are often socially unacceptable. They compromise the health and rights of those working in the industry, particularly in the Global South.
This alone is good enough for a reason to switch to thrift shopping. Don’t get me wrong; secondhand business is still obviously based on consumerism and firmly operates within the dominant capitalist political-economic structures. Yet, the ecological footprint of secondhand clothing is significantly smaller than that of newly manufactured clothes. And quite frankly, we still need clothes, don’t we? Thus, we should at least go for more sustainable options.
Social benefits of thrift shopping
Many thrift stores are operated by charities (hence the name “charity shop” in the UK). Thus, when you buy clothes secondhand, your money often goes toward a good cause and benefits e.g., your local community.
I also appreciate the opportunity to directly support individual resellers. When thrift shopping online, I often buy from small-scale sellers as opposed to large firms. Reselling is becoming an important economic activity for many living in otherwise precarious economic conditions. There’s an increasing number of resellers who support themselves and their families through their work. When I was an active member of the online reselling community Poshmark, I met many sellers, who were e.g., disabled or unemployed, and reselling was their only source of income.
Relaxation and the rush
Finally, what makes me always go back to the thrift store is the unbeatable rush that I get when I find something spectacular. It’s seriously the best feeling (and quite addictive, to be honest with you). For me, thrifting is also a way to unwind and relax after a workweek, and I thoroughly enjoy it.
I recognize that this is a controversial time to start a blog like this. Due to the pandemic, thrift shopping is unlikely to be on the top of your list of priorities right now. However, as thrift stores are currently closed (as they should be) and I’m unable to go thrifting, I wanted something fun to do, and I hope that these posts will be useful when the stores reopen. At the same time, this might be a good time to reconsider our consumption habits.
The next couple of posts will provide general advice on finding quality clothing in thrift stores. I will also give tips on finding bargains online and share some of my latest finds from early March with you. Hopefully this blog will show you how fun, rewarding, affordable, and sustainable thrift shopping can be.
Thanks so much for reading this! If you have anything specific in mind that you would like me to write about, please let me know.