Tips for Sustainable and Mindful Thrifting
A quick disclaimer: I believe that if you have the privilege to do so, it's best to thrift minimally (as in less often) so that it continues to be accessible to those who are less fortunate and who need to rely on thrifted goods to survive. When customers with higher socio-economic status begin to thrift, this drives up the prices and thins out the better quality items.
So by now, if you’ve been living in North America or you spend time in the eco-internet space, you’ve surely heard of ✨thrifting✨.
While living in France, I learned that it’s not actually a widespread practice there, and so I realized it’s a much bigger concept in North America. In the UK, thrift shops are called “charity shops”.
For anyone who is unfamiliar, thrifting is the practice of obtaining second-hand (or ‘’pre-loved”) goods. Commonly, we think of thrifting clothing, but this concept also extends to pretty much anything that can be used multiple times and that maintains some value once it’s been used (think furniture, homewares, games, appliances, tools, plants, art, skincare, makeup, and more).
Thrifting falls under the realm of sustainable shopping. If you want to know more about that topic, check out this post on how to shop sustainably.
If you’ve landed here, you’re probably looking to thrift with more purpose and a plan to ease some of the difficulty with the territory. Let’s get into some tips.
- Have a plan
Thrifting can be overwhelming, especially in big stores like Goodwill and Value Village. There’s just SO MUCH stuff there and you can get decision fatigue quickly. It will be a lot easier if you go in with a plan.- You can make a list of the things you want or need. (For example, I need leather pants and a leather jacket for my Catwoman costume and I want some casual pants that go with my current wardrobe)You can make a Pinterest board of aesthetics you’re trying to find pieces to match. This will help you avoid pieces that you technically like, but that won’t necessarily fit in with the things you have or don’t match the style you’re going for.
- Thrift in moderation
Thrifting can be fun, and gratifying, and it lowers the impact on the environment from the clothing industry. However, its original purpose was to bring lower-cost goods to underprivileged people. It’s still the case where many rely on thrift shops to afford clothing for themselves and their families. When people of higher socioeconomic backgrounds shop at thrift shops, it raises the prices and lowers the number of good items in the store.
Exercising moderation will also force you to think critically about the items you’re getting and will prevent you from getting more than you have space for or need. Doesn’t hurt to keep some hard-earned cash in your wallet too. - Different thrift stores (books, clothing, high-end clothing)
You don’t have to get everything you need from Goodwill for example. There are other thrifting options and they all offer up different benefits.
If you’re looking for a costume or for LOTS of options, a big box thrift store is the way to go. It’s also great for no-clothing items like house goods or furniture. However, you can find a more curated selection of items at a consignment store for example, which comes with a slightly higher price tag, but you may be more likely to find good items from better brands more quickly.
For example, near me, we have a consignment store called Plato’s Closet. If I’m looking for current fashion trends, I know I’ll have better luck there and it’s just a generally more pleasant shopping experience (less crowded, nicer atmosphere)
There are also specific stores for non-clothing used items (like cars of course), but you might not think of a used book store. There’s one near where I live and it’s a coffee shop as well with free wifi and gives you such a ✨ dark academic ✨ feel. - Facebook Marketplace/Facebook groups
Don’t forget you don’t have to go into a physical store to find used pieces. I find that Facebook marketplace and Facebook groups are good places to look because these pieces are usually of higher value than what you’d find in a thrift store. It can be easier to browse this way because you can filter for specific things like a brand.
Facebook marketplace is GREAT for non-clothing items too. It’s like Craigslist/Kijiji but better in my opinion because there is more transparency on the sellers and more people use it currently, so there’s more selection. I’ve bought and sold fall boots, fall jackets, a music stand, Bluetooth speakers, phones, and more.
- Take stock of what you have before you go
I’ve fallen into this trap many times. Be aware of the things you already own before you go. Not only will it prevent you from buying things you already have similar things to, but it’ll also help you pick out items that match what you already have.
I think it’s smarter to build off pieces you already have than to start with a fresh look in mind. You’d be surprised by the looks you can create! - Examine what you pick up (no returns sometimes)
Feel the item to make sure you would feel comfortable wearing it (not itchy for example) and for quality. Do a visual inspection for nicks, tears, stains, and threads coming loose. Check the buttons and zippers if there are any.
If there’s anything wrong with the garment, you don’t want to find out after you’ve already purchased it. Some thrift stores don’t allow returns, only exchanges, so you’ll want to be fairly confident in the pieces you’re getting. - Come prepared (ex. shopping bags, comfortable clothes, time)
Thrifting is different from shopping new in many ways. It can take time to find the pieces you’re looking for, so you’ll want to plan ahead rather than show up randomly. Wear comfortable clothing so that you can withstand being there for a while. If you wear something less bulky, it could help you try on things in the aisle (in case there are no changing rooms or there are long lines). You can bring your own shopping bags with you too so be sure to have some on hand that are big enough to carry the items you plan to buy. - Wash your things when you get home (if you can)
Not all items can be washed at the thrift store, but those that can should be. It’s tempting to wear/use your “new” treasures immediately, but remember that many people might’ve touched the items before you got them and you don’t know the item’s history before it made it into the store. - Online thrift stores
Similar to shopping from Facebook Marketplace, you can also check out online thrift stores like ThreadUp or Poshmark. At these retailers, the items are second-hand, but they’re shipped to you rather than arranging a pick-up like you would with Facebook Marketplace. It has more of a feel of online shopping at non-thrift retailers as they have a higher standard for how the items are displayed and has good filtering options (ex. by size, brand, price, etc).
- Make it fun!
Thrifting can be very gratifying and a more conscious way to shop, but you’re not going to do it if it feels like a chore. You can try making it a special occasion by bringing a friend, making yourself a playlist of fun music to listen to while you thrift, go to reward yourself for an accomplishment, and taking pride in your great finds!
Bonus: Give back
Thrifting is not possible without donations of pre-loved goods. It’s a two-way street and needs the donors/sellers just as much as the buyers to work. If you need a refresh or to make some space, try donating some of your items to a thrift store or selling them to a consignment store so someone can give them a second life.
I would almost encourage going with consignment or selling first to increase the chances that someone will actually use the item again and will prevent its likelihood of ending up in a landfill.
It can be very rewarding to participate in the second-hand market and I hope you will enjoy yourself on your next trip out.
If you want to learn more about how to shop sustainably outside of thrift shopping, check out this post with more tips: How to Shop Sustainably in 5 Easy Steps
Leave a Reply