I have four older cousins. I have received MANY hand-me-down clothing items over the years. I still do to be honest; it’s been less than a month since I raided someone’s “to go” pile. The point I’m trying to make is that I’ve grown up wearing pre-loved clothing and loving them myself. Granted, 14-year-old me had a questionable fashion sense, but that’s a topic for another day and should by no means be the standard by which you judge the thrifting industry.
Thrifting, in the good old days, meant going to a flea market or garage sale and buying second-hand items that are in good enough shape to be used and loved again by someone else. Nowadays, in the arguably better days, you can thrift from the comfort of your own couch. I’m talking online thrift stores.
That’s right, you’ve guessed it. I’m planning to launch my very own online thrift store.
Happy Heart Thrift will go live on both Facebook and Instagram on the 14th of February 2021. What better day to share the love of second-hand clothing than the day of love itself?
Here are some reasons why I love thrifting & would love you to join me in it:
- It’s easy on your time and your pocket
Online shopping has made the shopping experience almost effortless. I don’t have to drag myself to the shops to check out the latest stock. Although large store chains are online these days, I often check out my circle of online thrift stores first for a similar item at a fraction of the price. When I say a fraction, I’m talking an average price of R50 – R150.
- Unique finds
Everything has been owned before and isn’t hot off the shelf. Items might be from the latest season or from a couple of years ago. Either way, it’s a great way to get your hands on some gems that you aren’t likely to see elsewhere!
- It’s better for the environment
Fast fashion is the production of items en masse at low cost. It’s the reason you see five girls wearing the newest shirt all on the same day. Unfortunately, fast fashion is damaging to the environment. The fashion industry is responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions, and nearly 20% of wastewater. This easy access to the newest and shiniest also encourages excessive buying, which increases our wastage. Thrifting can help reduce that waste by giving others an opportunity to love items that no longer suit your wants and needs.
- It can help make your wallet a little heavier
Need more space for all your thrifted items? Outgrown some clothes or certain styles? You can sell your items on thrift stores too. Not all online thrift stores offer this option, but a lot do (namely mine – did I mention I’m opening a thrift store? Lol)
Separate competitions running on Facebook and Instagram, so be sure to enter both!
Not convinced yet? All of these are thrifted.
References
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200310-sustainable-fashion-how-to-buy-clothes-good-for-the-climate