Thrifting has had a boom in popularity recently, especially amongst teenagers. The rise of vintage aesthetics and the renewal of older clothing has been a major contributor to this admiration, but this rise in popularity has negatively impacted the thrifting community.
People thrift because there is a significant jump in prices from small local stores to billion-dollar brands. “Digging through the less curated stores can be fun, especially if you do end up finding something that you’re looking for,” senior Wylie Snyder said.
There are many kinds of thrift stores, such as vintage, resale, consignment, antique, and nonprofits. Chain shops such as Goodwill and Salvation Army seem to be most on-trend, as well as more curated vintage stores that aim to match a very specific vintage aesthetic.
Thrifting stores increasing in Orlando area
However, severe inflation and other price factors in stores have been harmful to shoppers. Resellers have been taking over the market online on apps like Depop and Poshmark, buying things just to sell them for a higher price. On social media, there are many creators who buy items from resale stores and list them for way more than they’re worth. “It’s kind of gotten ridiculous. It’s definitely a result of people buying a million things and selling them on Depop,” junior Nova Zimmerman said. At the end of the day, it is the individual store that decides their prices.
Senior Guiliana Marra said “It’s cheaper, it’s more ethical and I’m not buying into fast fashion.” The environmental side of things also tends to be a pro for thrifting. In America alone 11.3 million tons of textile waste are thrown away each year, and by thrifting you can give these previously owned clothes a new home. Fast fashion is a severe contributor to this pollution.
It seems thrifting will have hold on this generation for many years to come.
