Thrifting is the New Recycling

October 12, 2020October 12, 2020
Energy, Plastics
by opd5018

I’m sure that at least once in your lifetime you have been to a thrift store. Whether you were looking for a bargain with your mom or went with your friends just to go out, we have all found ourselves lost in the maze that is a thrift store.

However, did you know that, by buying clothes from a thrift store, you are actually recycling?

No? That’s okay because many people don’t realize it either!

Yet, by become a patron at your local thrift stores you are helping to recycle one of the greatest sources of waste in the world: clothing. Especially since the boom of fast fashion, clothing has become one of the largest sources of waste with “more than 15 million tons of used textile waste generated each year in the United States (Textile and Garments Recycling Facts and Figures).”

Not only do the clothes themselves become waste, but many pieces of clothing are made from polyester, a plastic discussed in last week’s article. Without recycling these products, either through thrift stores or via donations, more clothes containing polyester are manufactured thus increasing plastic pollution!

After reading this article, you will know more about thrifting, what you can do to steer away from fast fashion, and understand the double-edged sword that is recycling by thrifting.

A Glimpse into the Fashion Industry

In the fashion industry, there are several causes for concerns in terms of waste and the industry’s effect on the environment.

First, fashion industries have a heavy consumption of water in order to create their products. A single pair of jeans alone requires “over 8,000 liters of water to make (How to Dress Greener).”

Many clothes are also made from agricultural crops such as cotton which require the use of pesticides. The use of pesticides has several negative effects on the environment including soil acidification and agricultural run-off (How to Dress Greener).

Another important factor to consider is the energy consumption of the fashion industry. Companies use extensive amounts of energy to create their products, whether to power their sewing machines, light the factories, or wash the clothes (How to Dress Greener).

Finally, there is the industry’s production of greenhouse gases and use of plastics.

According to The Conscious Club, “the clothing industry accounts for 10 percent of the world’s carbon emissions,” especially due to the fact many plants rely on coal-produced power (Clothing & Energy). The greenhouse gases are produced at various stages of the textile process yet, combined, create a serious problem for the environment.

Many companies also include plastic materials, mainly polyester, in their clothing. This is especially true in high polyester clothing items such as workout clothes. Yet, many pieces of clothing contain at least a small percentage of polyester. The creation of polyester relies on utilizing fossil fuels and oil which further contributes to the fashion industry’s carbon footprint.

However, thrifting provides an option to decrease the fashion industry’s contribution to these environmental issues by recycling already produced materials!

Thrifting: The New Trend

For a long time, the main client demographic that thrift stores were catering to consisted of adults looking for knick-knacks or a bargain price shirt, and those who were shopping on a tight budget.

However, there has been an insurgence in the popularity of thrifting within the teenage and early 20s demographic! More and more, teenagers are using their free time on the weekends to go thrifting instead of going to the mall. According to the online retailer ThredUP, there has been a 15% increase from 2016 to 2019 in Gen Z thrifting and Gen Z members are the most likely to second-hand shop in comparison to their generational counterparts (2020 Fashion Resale Report).

Thrifting’s rise to fame is due to a few factors.

First, fashion trends are extremely diverse in today’s day and age. People not only have so many styles to choose from, but it’s also “socially acceptable” to mix and match styles within the scope of your own personal style.

This has led to the re-emergence of several styles from different decades, and what better way to fit the style than to have the clothes! Teenagers go thrifting looking for retro, high quality pieces of clothes to fit their styles!

Next, teenagers of this generation are regarded as one of the most environmentally aware and active demographics! A decent percentage of teenagers that thrift recognize that it is a form of recycling so they have made it their main method of shopping.

Finally, teenagers are in fact teenagers- meaning that we do not always have the money to drop $50 on a shirt from Urban Outfitters. To teenagers, thrifting is a recognizable way to save money while getting the clothes needed to achieve their dream closet style.

This increase in thrift store patronage has done wonders for the recycling of fashion materials! Plus it has broadened the scope of fashion as we know it today, allowing for more people to express themselves in affordable retro pieces!

While the emergence of this trend within the teenage demographic has helped to offset some of the effects of fast fashion, it has also spurred a different type of problem- one that is focused on economics.

A Double-edged Sword

As the country has seen an increase in thrift store patronage, thrift stores have been making a profit margin they have never seen before. This profit margin increase has led to thrift stores raising their prices, based on the idea that they have to make as much as they can before this trend dies out.

However, this poses a serious problem for thrift stores original clientele: individuals on a strict budget.

For decades, thrift stores have been the place for those struggling with a budget and even the homeless to acquire necessary items of clothing for a fraction of the typical cost. This includes pieces such as heavy coats, for the winter, ties and suit jackets, for interviews, and even children’s clothes.

Establishments like thrift stores are essential for those who are financially struggling, especially when they need an important piece of clothing. The fashion industry has a ridiculous price markup on their products, which cost a fraction of the cost to produce (there is also the issue of human rights and ethical practices for the fashion industry to consider here).

This contributes not only to an increase in prices for the thrift store items, making them less obtainable by low-income individuals, but also limits the quality of items available.

Again, items such as winter jackets are essential for anyone who lives in a colder climate which means they are necessary for those who struggling too! Another problem is that it is currently a style trend to wear oversized sweatshirts and t-shirts.

Larger sizes for clothing are already difficult to find in any store and even more so in thrift stores (Rise of Thrifting). By buying these items at thrift stores, teenagers are reducing low-income buyers chances even further from getting what they need.

These issues are serious counterparts to consider when shopping at thrift stores. However, these issues should not completely deter us from shopping at thrift store. Like all things, there are compromises!

What You Can Do

Although there is a serious economic downside to thrifting, overall, thrifting is one of the best non-traditional recycling solutions out there. That is why the answer to this question is fairly simple.

#1: First, you can thrift.

Don’t be afraid to go thrifting after realizing the existence of the consequences from the double-edged sword. However, when you thrift, be vigilant.

Being a smart, vigilant thrifter means making sure to not buy several pieces of heavy winter clothes, as someone else less fortunate may rely on buying these items to survive. It also means that you should try to shop at places who do not raise their prices obnoxiously.

#2: Another option is to buy from environmentally friendly, higher cost brands.

This is an alternative for those who are looking for an environmentally friendly shopping experience yet have the money to purchase these items. If you have the money to spend, invest in these great companies by purchasing their items instead of always thrifting.

#3: Stay with the shops that maintain their prices.

This will ensure that you are supporting a shop that makes sure their prices will not go up to the point that those who need it most cannot shop their anymore.

#4: Another thing you can do is donate your outdated clothes frequently!

According to The Water Footprint Calculator, “the average American throws away 70 pounds of clothing every year.” Why not recycle it instead? Some places even give tax deductions as your clothing is considered to be a monetary donation!

By donating the clothes, you are adding merchandise to the thrifting market, which promotes this type of recycling. This also ensures that your clothing, especially pieces containing plastic materials, do not end up improperly discarded in landfills.

#5: Finally, you can work to change your shopping habits.

Try your best to make the shift from buying from fast fashion companies regularly. I know they have the styles that are in, but the quality of the clothes and the waste they produce is not good!

Also, try to only buy what you need, not what you want. In America, “the average person buys 60 percent more items of clothing every year and keeps them for about half as long as 15 years ago, generating a huge amount of waste (Textile and Garments Recycling Facts and Figures). ”

Try to focus on buying pieces that you can use in several outfits instead of pieces that can only be used for one outfit!

In the end, thrifting is a great way to reduce the harmful effects of the fashion industry, especially fast fashion. However, with every new breakthrough, there is a catch. Just be a vigilant thrifter and participate in other positive ways within the thrifting market, in order to sustain prices for those who need it most!