Vintage and 90’s fashion looks are coming back in style, and what’s more vintage than a thrift shop? Fashion and style are constantly changing from one season to the next. However, over the past year second hand shopping has become one of the main attractions to teenagers and young adults. With the 90’s fashion back in style, and the environment on people’s minds right now, thrift shopping is evolving to become the next best trend. Whether you may have several different styles that you like to try, or one signature look you cannot live without, thrift shops have it all. Thrifting has always been a more affordable method of shopping, and creates a way to support sustainable fashion by purchasing secondhand clothing. Today, there are many new opportunities where people can still be involved in selling or purchasing second-hand clothing, without being in store. The Coronavirus has affected many thrift stores in making less sales, because people are worried about sanitized items and purchasing them second hand. However, it is slowly making a comeback, with the help of teenagers across the country.
Technology and social media has an enormous effect on secondhand shopping, allowing the younger generation to recognize it more. For example, Poshmark, Depop, Thredup, and Swap have changed the entire thrifting idea, allowing people to secondhand shop at their own comfort at home. Social media is a great way to see how second-hand shopping has been influenced, by several ads on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Many influencers have created their own accounts as well, promoting their clothes and selling it to people in the U.S. Influencers who have a younger target audience, might have an impact on people’s fashion, affecting where they shop. Thrifting has become a popular way to hangout with friends, because there are so many different unique styles and trends that can be found at your local thrift store. Not only is thrifting a more affordable way of shopping but it is also environmentally friendly. With thrifting becoming a more known trend with teenagers and young adults today, the influence of thrifting spread has made people more socially aware about supporting fast fashion as well. However, there are many factors to be aware of while thrifting, to not harm any of the store’s products and sales.
When thrifting, if people choose to purchase a large amount of secondhand clothing, they tend to forget to donate a similar amount in the future. Thrift Shops, such as Goodwill, are targeted to low-income families who cannot afford any other clothes. Not only does this affect the store itself, but also sellers online. Going back to Depop and Poshmark, many sellers tend to raid the shops until almost everything is sold out, leaving nothing behind. While it is encouraged to thrift shop for the environmental impact, be sure not to go overboard with how much you buy, and keep in mind the low-income families who cannot afford anything else. As a teenager myself who has started to enjoy thrift shopping, a major reason as to why thrifting became popular is because people have found their own sense of style. Not only does it bring out someone’s creative side while finding clothes they have never seen before, but also expressing creativity in a form that people love. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/29/style/secondhand-clothes-coronavirus-safety.html
The Roar 