The Revival of Thrifting

As our knowledge of the negative effects of fast fashion on the environment grows exponentially, the idea of thrifting becomes increasingly attractive. The fashion industry as a whole is recognized as the 2nd largest contributor to pollution, and it is becoming increasingly obvious our current ways are not sustainable. Thrifting presents itself as a prime option to combat this sustainability crisis as consumers not only because it reduces the need to produce the current high volume of new clothes, but also because it extends the “life” of a garment.

However, I would be lying if I said I solely enjoy vintage clothes and thrifting because of its sustainability, because I fell in love with thrifting initially due to the rush of finding unique pieces. By thrifting vintage pieces, I am able to curate original looks that others cannot recreate, which I find also opens the door to intriguing conversations about how I found such interesting garments.

Another advantage to thrifting is the low price, with the price range depending solely on the nature of each vintage or thrift store. For example, we have the classic Goodwill store versus Auburn’s midrange-price Lifesavers Mission Thriftstore and my personal favorite option that is a little pricier, The Atelier. Of course there are always online options as well; I personally love Ebay because you can create notifications for new items that match your common searches, making it that much easier to find something specific. Additionally, most thrift stores are local, with some benefiting religious organizations and other charitable causes. With the current state of our economy in mind, supporting local businesses should be at the forefront of our minds. Although you have to spend a long time searching through many, many racks of clothing at thrift stores, it’s ultimately worth it to find an affordable and one-of-a-kind piece.

Half the time I venture to a thrift store, I am simply looking for a unique piece; however, sometimes I go in search of basics that I rework by cutting up, stitching together, or painting on. My favorite reworked thrift find is the denim shorts pictured in this article. I bought old Levi’s jeans, which I cut, distressed, and covered in painted red stars with my hometown area code and abbreviation.

My friends always say they don’t like thrifting but are always so impressed with my thrifted finds, which is exactly why I urge anyone and everyone to go try it. Yes, you have to sift through hundreds of things you absolutely hate just to find one or two pieces, but in my experience I have found my absolute FAVORITE clothes thrifting.