Something old becomes something new. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. These time-tested sayings stand true in the art of thrifting: finding and visiting secondhand clothing stores .
Because of the low prices, thrifting is a low-risk way to expand wardrobes. Lower prices make experimentation with fashion and style more realistic and achievable.
“[I decided to start thrifting because of], one, friends, and two, money,” Sadie Davis (11) said. “I’m not a clothes person, so I think thrifting is a great alternative if you’re trying to, maybe, explore new styles or if you just need to widen your closet. I think it’s a great way to test out new things.”
Thrift stores are different from regular stores in more ways than the sale of used clothing. Thrift store prices attract people of many demographics and financial backgrounds all looking for a variety of different products and clothing.
“The price tag is the first thing I think [of],” Davis said. “Just the saving money aspects because I do think that, especially clothing items, everything is very expensive — especially if you’re a teenager. I think [thrifting] is more appealing, especially to younger people.”
On social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, thrifting has begun trending as a way to find quality items for a lower price; however, the rising trend has sparked some controversy over whether or not it is okay for people with higher incomes to purchase thrifted clothing. Many question whether thrifting should be exclusively for people who can not afford new clothing.
“I think that thrifting is always open to everyone, and we can’t really discriminate on who goes to what stores, but thrifting is a great way for people who don’t have as great an income to be able to get nice things that aren’t trash,” Abby Mitchell (11) said. “I understand people doing it as a trend because I do genuinely enjoy it, so I understand why it’s a trend.”
Clothing platforms such as Shein and Temu also boast lower prices for clothing, but at the expense of quality. The growth of fast fashion in the media marks a sharp contrast between inexpensive clothing sites and thrifting.
“It can feel like you’re doing something good when you’re choosing to go thrifting instead of buying clothing items new because of things like fast fashion that has risen really rapidly,” Davis said.
Thrifting goods and clothing can look different for each person. While some thrift to find convenient and affordable clothing, others thrift with the intention of upcycling their finds, which is the practice of transforming clothing and goods into new items or restoring them.
“When I think [of] upcycling, I think of creativity and purely making something old into something new,” Davis said. “And while I do think thrifting is similar in the way of giving life to something old in a new way because its on a new person, in a new closet and a new style, I think that the difference is thrifting is just buying something and typically [keeping it the same], versus upcycling, [which] is like a passion project. I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive.”
The diversity of goods at thrift stores, whether items are from new brands and styles or are antique and vintage, makes them more attractive to people looking for unique and genuine items. Thrift stores take in donations from many people with many styles, making the composition of goods in thrift stores different each visit.
“Every mug on [Blue City Thrift] shelf is different,” Mitchell said.“You hardly ever find an article of clothing twice. Everything is unique, and so that makes everything you own really special because hardly anybody else has the same thing.”
