Thrift Shop
- Wolfpak Press
- May 6, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: May 7, 2021
By: Phoebe Hong
We, Gen Z, seem to have one thing in common with Macklemore: we only got $20 in our pockets. Here's a rundown on the phenomenon of second hand retail, otherwise known as "thrifting", and how it has taken over the lives of young, broke teens in recent trends.
"Young Dumb and Broke". As stated by Khalid, those three adjectives quite wholly depicts the general youth of America. Most of us have no jobs--as busy high school students-- no source of money except maybe a sparse allowance, and that's if you're lucky. So, what do fashion enthusiastic teens with perpetually empty pockets turn to? Finding the cheapest possible stores that still sell the trending fashion staples. Our empty wallets combined with the recent rise in "vintage fashion" formulated one solution that our generation has so graciously embraced: thrift shopping.
Let's dive into the phenomenon of thrifting, and it's journey to becoming one of the top trends of recent years, especially by our Gen Z population. Back in the old days of dinosaurs and the Ice Age-- otherwise known as the millennial/boomer era-- the general stigma around thrift shopping was that the clothes were old and dirty, and one would never admit to their peers that they got their clothes from *gasp* a secondhand store. However, our generation--made up of a strong militia of broke teenagers with quaking wallets--stepped in to reclaim our appreciation for the thrift stores.
With the current trends of vintage fashion, as well as our consumer mindset of never having enough clothes, Gen Z has turned to our local beloved thrift stores for cheap fashion finds. Besides our traditional thrift stores like Goodwill or Value Village, the Goodwill bins have gained widespread attention for their astonishingly cheap prices; with the cost being determined per pound instead of per item.
Thrift stores are home to a vast arrangement of sweet vintage finds, ranging from cheap flannels, hoodies, and the occasional lucky-finds of brand name items. It goes without mention to say that thrifting is a great sustainable activity, as it reduces the tons of annual waste that is produced from discarded clothing, and in essence, recycles clothes to be upcycled and loved by new consumers.
Even so, overconsumption seems to be the new downfall brought forth by this method of shopping. While it's alluring cheap prices are the reason behind their popularity, it is unarguably true that these low prices lead to the unnecessary overload of purchases. Thus, it is necessary to hold yourself accountable for your consumerist footprint, and be cognizant in distinguishing between your needs and your wants.
The popularity of thrifty fashion, however, should not override the fact that the primary purpose of thrift stores is to provide cheap clothing for those who can not afford retail shopping. For those who cannot afford retail, thrift stores have been an essential source for buying clothes. While getting a pair of dress pants at a thrift store could be a nice addition to an upper class consumer’s wardrobe, for someone else it could spell the difference between looking professional at a crucial job interview or showing up underdressed. With that being said, the homeless, or those in need, should and must have primary access to such items-- especially necessities like winter jackets or warm shoes. So, while thrifting is an excellent activity for sustainable and cheap shopping-- don't let the low prices convince you to buy piles of clothing you don't need, or clothes you could be possibly taking away from those in need.
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