Thrift shopping was way popular even before Macklemore and Ryan Lewis made a song about it in 2012. There are a million reasons why you should give pre-loved clothing a second chance at life. Thrifting for clothes allows you to find unique outfits and hidden gems. It’s also a sustainable form of fashion because it minimizes the number of garments that are sent to landfills every year.
Thrifting for clothes is an art that requires knowledge and experience. If you are just getting started with thrifting, you may find this experience to be a bit tiresome and overwhelming. That’s why we decided to come up with a list of tips and advice on finding thrifted outfits. These are tips shared by experts in the thrifting community and will ensure you get unique pieces at crazy prices from your next thrift excursion.
It’s pretty evident that there is more to thrifting than just finding unique outfits. If you have decided to start thrifting, think of it as a sport. There are several guidelines you have to follow if you want to become a pro thrifter. Below, is an infographic that summarizes a roundup article where 22 experts offer their best styling advice for shopping for thrifted outfits.
The Definition of a Thrifted Outfit
A thrifted outfit refers to second-hand clothing that is being sold at a much lower price. These garments are often gently used and some might need a few repairs before they can be worn by the new owner. Thrifted outfits are sold at thrift stores which may either be a physical shop or an online store.
Unlike all second-hand clothing, thrift shop outfits are in great shape. And instead of being sent to the landfill for disposal, these clothes are still useful to new owners. Contrary to popular belief, you can find amazing and quality pieces from thrift stores. If you like unique clothing, you should give thrift shopping a try. You can get lucky with anything from rare vegan backpacks to vintage jewelry.
Why Start Thrifting?
A while back, thrifting was common amongst college students and younger adults because of the discounted prices. However, today, thrifting is popular amongst people of all ages. Heck, we even have a style of dressing known as thrift store chic.
There are a couple of reasons why anyone may start thrifting. At a thrift store, you can find quality and unique pieces at pocket-friendly prices. If you ask any thrifting enthusiast, they will have lots of stories about how they found designer jeans, jackets, or t-shirts at unbeatable prices.
Besides that, thrifting allows you to get creative with your wardrobe. Thrift shopping forces you to think outside the box. If you have never pictured yourself rocking an oversized vintage t-shirt, you may have to rethink your fashion choices.
The other reason why you should start thrifting is because it’s sustainable and eco-friendly. Every year, more than 90 million tons of clothing are disposed of in landfills. If that doesn’t sound crazy enough, a lot of resources are used in the manufacturing and transportation of new clothing.
If we continue discarding old clothes and buying new ones, we are torturing our planet. Thrifting significantly minimizes the environmental impact of the clothing industry.
Don’t forget that thrift stores like Giverise.ca donate a portion of the money to charity. When you buy thrift shop outfits, you are indirectly contributing to charitable causes.
Interesting Facts about the Fashion Industry
Clothing is a basic need. However, fashion is something completely different. This multi-billion-dollar industry incorporates culture, taste, and personal style. People pay a lot of good money for styling services and top-notch threads.
In a world where consumer patterns are always evolving, the fashion industry is bound to witness several changes every year. Whether you are into thrift shop outfits or new clothes, here are some interesting facts about the fashion industry that will blow your mind;
- More than a hundred billion pieces of clothing are manufactured each year.
- From this huge figure, at least 90 million tons of clothing are disposed in landfills annually.
- Textile and other clothing materials can take more than two centuries to fully decompose in landfills.
- The amount of pollution that originates from fashion is more than the one generated from both shipping and aviation.
- Plastic is the crucial ingredient in about 60% of all clothes made.
- Did you know that a pair of jeans uses around 7.5 cubic meters of water during manufacture? This translates to worldwide water consumption of 92 billion cubic meters annually.
- A couple of organizations such as the European Commission plan to stop the fast fashion niche.
- More than 98% of outfits donated to charity are not sold in developed countries. These garments often find their way into underdeveloped nations.
- Thrift stores contribute significantly to minimizing textile waste.
- The earliest thrift stores were opened in the 1920s.
- The Great Depression accelerated the demand for second-hand clothing in the US.
Final Thoughts
Thanks to thrifting, you can add unique outfits to your wardrobe at a fraction of the cost. For many shoppers, thrifting is quite fun and it helps make the world a better place. With the help of the tips shared above, you should be able to get the most out of your thrifting excursions.
