BY RYAN MERARD
Many people love to shop and clothing is a favorite target of bargain hunters everywhere. However, in an era where clothes can go out of style before you even knew they were in, thrifting has gained lots of popularity over the past few decades and should continue to do so.
People tend to shop at thrift stores because the prices are usually cheaper than what would be found at department stores. Most of the items at a thrift shop have been used before and donated to these places, which results in lower prices. Shopping at thrift stores can save people lots of money, while still dressing in quality clothing. The items sold in thrift stores are usually previously owned, so it is possible to find name-brand clothes as well.
Thrifting not only saves money but can also benefit charities and the environment. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, sales clerks for thrift stores have “Green Jobs,” meaning that they are environmentally-friendly jobs since they collect and recycle items that would otherwise be wasted.
Thrifting not only saves money but can also benefit charities and the environment.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), about 11,150,000 tons of textiles were thrown away by Americans in 2017. Clothes that are thrown away to landfills can sometimes reach the ocean, which is harmful to marine life. The synthetic fibers that are used in clothing can take hundreds of years to decompose. These non-degradable microfibers are harming the oceans, contributing to the deaths of 100,000 marine animals each year.
When people donate items that others purchase, they are keeping these items out of a landfill, so everyone involved in helping the environment. Items purchased can be reused or reformed for a new purpose. By choosing used items over newly-produced pieces, consumers are shrinking their carbon footprint. This also limits the amount of natural resources it takes to create new fabric, make the clothing and ship it hundreds or thousands of miles to the store.
Many thrift stores are non-profit organizations that give back locally in multiple ways, so the money being spent thrifting also goes right back into your community. For instance, national thrift stores like Goodwill provide career support for the disabled. Local churches, hospitals and private schools also have resale shops at times to support their causes. When making a purchase at these stores, part of what is spent usually goes to a good cause.
With all the benefits that come with thrift shopping, this negative stigma should not matter because everyone involved is investing in a great cause.
There has always been the stereotype that thrifting is associated with poverty. An individual’s economic status may affect their choice of going thrifting or not, but this should not deter those who are not affected by poverty to shop at thrift stores. Just because someone chooses to buy from thrift stores does not mean that they are struggling financially. With all the benefits that come with thrift shopping, this negative stigma should not matter because everyone involved is investing in a great cause.
Buying new clothes from retail stores should never be completely abolished. Second-hand shopping is not going to solve all of the environmental problems in the world, but it is one way that we can minimize the number of clothes thrown away and work towards a better future. People should practice shopping at thrift stores occasionally because, at the end of the day, saving money, supporting a good cause and helping save the environment is always a smart choice.
Photo courtesy of TODAY
