Thrifting: The Importance of Buying Second-Hand

I’ll admit, when I’m looking for a new piece to put in my closet, my last thought is thrifting. I have an idea of what I want and how I want it to look on my body. A simple Google search with some key words can lead me to exactly what I’m looking for and then I don’t have to search for hours through so many stores to hopefully find something similar to what I have in my head.

All of this being said, the benefits of thrifting go beyond the unique finds on the racks. Many of us don’t realize the environmental impact that fast fashion has. Along with that, buying from traditional or online stores can cause a lack of creativity in the things that you wear! While I’m only discussing a few of the positives of thrifting, there are so many things to discover from second-hand clothing that may change your wardrobe forever.

Save Money and the Earth

The first and most obvious benefit of buying second-hand clothing is the almighty price drop! At stores like Goodwill, prices are set to a certain point depending on what category they fall into. Supply and demand don’t control the price and you’re able to buy multiple pieces for the same price as a single item would cost for a sweater at the mall. The reduced price is perfect for those who are looking to grow their closet or those who do not have the income to afford the insane prices that some places are charging.

Another benefit many don’t consider is the environmental impact that thrifting can have. By purchasing an item that has already been loved (which a good amount of the clothes at my Goodwill still have tags, so I’m the first to love them!), you’re able to extend the piece’s lifecycle. This extension, in turn, uses far more resources than it would to make a new piece. Less textiles will be wasted and thrown into a landfill. Textiles take a while to breakdown and the dyes may leak into the ground, and therefore our water. This means that there are more chemicals (i.e. insecticides from cotton production) that enter the water around us every day. 20% of industrial water pollution comes from these dyes and the fabrics that are thrown into our landfill.

Speaking of water, did you know that it takes almost 3,000 liters of water to make a single t-shirt? That’s the average amount a person drinks in 2 ½ years! This is why 20% of the water that is wasted globally comes from the production of clothing.

Switching to a different element of our earth, the air is also impacted heavily. 10% of global carbon emissions are from the fashion industry. When ordering your items online, you are adding to the emission that result from that package’s transportation.

While this is just the tip of the iceberg of the environmental impacts that the fashion industry has on our Earth (don’t get me started on fast fashion), it’s simple to see that buying clothing that has already been produced can have a larger effect than many realize. So, instead of strolling the mall or mindlessly scrolling through another trendy website, take a look at your local thrift store and see if you can’t find a gem (or gems!) that someone else abandoned.

Sewing and Upcycling

We learn so many skills in life. Some can be useless (why do I need to know how to play the spoons?) and others can come in handy time and time again. One skill that has really helped me in my life is knowing how to sew. My wonderful grandma taught me when I was young, showing me the basics and working my skills up to technical tailoring.

Being 23, I still find my imagination going wild with wanting to create new pieces of clothing for myself. That being said, I find that I am making more repairs than full pieces these days. And I am so grateful that I know how to do it! By knowing how to make simple repairs or how to fit pieces to your body, you can save so much money as well as avoid putting another item in the landfill.

By simply looking up a video on YouTube or using a WikiHow article, you can learn how to sew that small hole in your sock, replace a button, or hem those pants so they do fit your short little legs. It is so much easier than so many people and takes far less time than getting a new item. Not to mention, tailoring that shirt that you want to fit tighter requires only a few pins and a sewing machine. The world of customizing your wardrobe is vast and sparks so much creativity that will only create new and amazing ideas!

Along with finding a piece that you can make fit you like a glove, you can also come across pieces that can be made into entirely new garments! I never considered this until I found a maxi skirt at Goodwill one day. The skirt was clearly too large for me and I planned on tailoring it to my body. A sweet, older woman stopped me in the racks and asked if I was going to use the gorgeous floral fabric to make a dress or a shirt. Suddenly, an entirely different side of thrifting opened up in my mind! I can’t tell you how many times I skipped over the blanket and linen section of my second-hand store because I did not see the use in my life. I’m now constantly finding fun and unique patterns that any clothing store lacked because I was thinking too narrow mindedly about their purposes.

You can find patterns at any fabric store or even on websites like Etsy for very cheap that can be used to make a unique piece that others won’t have! On the flip side, you can also take a piece that you already love from your closet and use it as a pattern! In that case, you already know you like the fit and style, you just get one in a new color or pattern that may not be available. And trust me, there is so much satisfaction in being complimented on a piece of clothing and replying with, “Thanks! I made it myself!”