Your friend texts you on a Friday night, making plans for the weekend. They suggest shopping. "We could", they suggest, "hit up the department store at the mall. Or, we could save money and shop at the thrift store." You decide to try something new, so you agreed on the second option: thrifting. Thrifting, in addition to being the more financially responsible option, brings many benefits to not only your wardrobe but also the world around you.
So...let's get into it!
Reduces waste.
Thrifting keeps clothes out of landfills, reducing the amount of textiles and non-biodegradeable materials thrown out
The production of clothing is also very water-intensive, so thrifting used clothes saves the amount of water used
Thrift finds can be upcycled.
You can turn a T-shirt into a tank, old paintings into a gallery, and so much more!
Seriously, it's a good opportunity to practice your creativity.
Supports your community.
Thrift shops are not for profit and money goes to charities and neighborhood organizations
Reduces chemical production.
Producing new articles of clothing often uses a lot of chemicals, so buying used pieces of clothing reduces this process.
BUT BEWARE!
Although thrifting saves money and reduces your carbon footprint, it can also tear low-income communities apart. When wealthier thrift shoppers thrift in a low-income neighborhood, there are little affordable clothes left for low-income people who need them the most. In addition, the presence of wealthier buyers causes prices to raise, which reduces the amount of affordable clothing options for people in need. This leads to the gentrification of thrifting. To combat this cycle, you could go to a wealthier neighborhood to thrift rather than a low-income one.
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