Thrift, not shop.

It can be a confusing idea – “thrift, not shop” because thrifting is shopping, isn’t yet?

Yes and No.

The secondhand fashion world, one of the pillars of the sustainable fashion movement, is catching a lot of steam. Secondhand buying is growing — and likely contributing to the decline of fast fashion. That should be a good thing, especially for environmental reasons. So why has buying and selling used clothes become so problematic to use internet parlance? The general argument is that resellers and bulk buyers are inadvertently raising the prices of thrifted goods by purchasing items they don’t personally need. As a result, low-income shoppers might be priced out of thrift stores in their area, and plus-sized consumers, who already struggle to find clothing in the firsthand market, could be left with fewer options.

Early in their history, thrift stores gave more people access to newer fashions, benefiting immigrants, minorities, and low-income shoppers who existed on the margins of the consumer world.

But as clothing production sped up in the 20th century, thrift stores became places where Americans discarded used clothing for newer items. “What this accomplished, even a century ago, was to constantly accelerate the demand for new clothing,” Le Zotte From Goodwill to Grunge: A History of Secondhand Styles and Alternative Economies. “The impetus to get rid of clothing is often charitable, but the more clothing that is contributed and viable, the more fashion cycles speed up.” Tons of pre-owned garments still go to landfills or get sold by the ton for cheap overseas. These misconceptions, Le Zotte said, are wrapped up in the prevailing myth that donating clothes offers a net positive for society, an idea that has existed for decades.

What can we do?

One thing I have been thinking a lot about is how my nana kept her wardrobe. Born in 1918, had a very minimal wardrobe. Growing up in the Depression Era, and the eldest of 4 girls, she would tell me stories of how her mom would sew their clothes and she would hand them down to her sisters. There are valuable lessons we need to revisit here.

1. A common depression era leftover is the theory that minimalism is more efficient.
2. Rather than discarding an item, repair it, mend even the most tattered clothing.
   1. I did a lot of this during COVID
3. If a piece of clothing is just beyond repair or use as clothes, turn into rags
4. Wear clothing until they are nubs of only inches of cotton and dangling buttons, stained and sullied.
   1. We don’t do this anymore, as it has a negative connotation and image
5. Buy Clothes You’ll Wear Forever & Shop Secondhand
   1. A great concept, and one the majority struggle with
6. Buying second-hand and re-wearing clothing at least 30 times. Not only is this better for the environment, but for your wallet too! While you’re at it, you can save money and energy by only washing clothes that are actually dirty, washing large loads on cold, and hanging your clothes to dry – extending their life as well!

I have, and am still working on, creating a minimalist wardrobe. I have items in my closet that I LOVE. I am trying to let them go (and they are second-hand). I ideally would like a minimalist wardrobe, extending to my home and the PACKED garage of stuff, which I don’t have a clue what most is.