How Thrift Stores are Building a Sustainable Circular Economy

The world of fashion is at a crossroads. On one hand the relentless churn of fast fashion doesn’t seem to be slowing down, while on the other hand, principles of sustainable fashion have also picked up speed. Trends are still changing at the speed of a tweet, but their environmental impact is also getting noticed. More and more people are becoming aware of the negative impact of excessive fashion consumption on Earth and finding new ways to tackle it. 

This has given rise to the ‘recommerce’ boom - the idea of reselling pre-loved t shirts or crewneck sweatshirt styles at a thrift store. Associated with the laidback hippie subculture for the longest time, thrifting has found a home in this new era. The fashion industry is one of the largest contributors of pollution and waste, with about 92 million tons of textile waste generated annually. This staggering cost of shopping to the environment has called for a change in shopping habits. Thus, more and more people are moving towards buying from second hand stores and enjoying the joys of thrifting.

What is a Thrift Store and How is it Supporting Sustainability?

Thrift fashion is nothing but the reselling of pre-owned clothing items at affordable prices. Although thrift shopping has been around for ages, it is only recently that consumers have embraced it as a way to adopt sustainability. The greatest advantage of buying from a second hand store is the reduction of clothing waste that finds its way to landfills. It also reduces air pollution, water pollution and energy consumption, thus minimizing the carbon footprint of the fashion industry and keeping its harmful impacts on the environment in check. Let’s take a look at some of the environmental benefits of buying from a used clothing store.

• Reducing waste generation: Reusing old clothes and giving them a new life significantly reduces the amount of discarded clothing waste that reaches landfills. 
• Conserving natural resources: Since buying from a thrift store reduces the need for continuous production of new styles it minimizes the reliability of the fashion industry on natural resources like energy, water and air.
• Friendlier on the pockets: Customers can buy pre-loved styles from a thrift store at one-fourth its actual price (this includes some cherished designer items as well!), thus finding it cheaper than buying new trends.
• Building awareness: Thrift shopping goes a long way in educating the current consumer generation about sustainability and helps them make informed choices when it comes to looking good.
• Creating Community: If the recent surge in Instagram thrift stores is anything to go by, it is safe to say that thrifting is building a community of like-minded people who can get together and share the same ideals.

How Buying from a Thrift Store Can Benefit Circular Economy?

The circular economy is one of the leading concepts of sustainable fashion that emphasizes the need to reduce waste and improve the lifespan of fashion products. It works on the principle of reduce, reuse and recycle. And, what better way to champion the ethos of the three R’s than shopping from a second hand store. A thrift store is changing the way people consume fashion, and in turn, changing the way they shop. The present generation is moving away from constant consumption and heading to used clothing stores to find unique pieces. Let’s find out how a thrift store plays a crucial role in fostering a circular economy.

• Extends the lifespan of products: Purchasing from a thrift store gives old clothes a new life. Hence, these products stay in use for longer and don’t end up in landfills in perfectly good condition.
• Promotes the concept of reuse and recycle: A second hand store (online or brick-and-mortar) is a marketplace for pre-loved goods. Buying from these used clothing stores promotes the cycle of reusing and recycling, thus supporting the circular economy.
• Brings variety into the mix: Thrifting from a used clothing store can bring in variety to people’s closets. It advances the idea of mix-and-match where consumers have to find something they like rather than just picking the first thing off the rack. Unlike fast fashion retail stores that present their merchandise in systematic collections for cross-selling, a thrift store can have an assortment of items like hoodies or crew neck hoodies  placed together. This gives people the option to choose something they never would have otherwise.
• Supports affordability: A thrift store usually has something for everyone and at much lower costs than new styles. It matches consumers with high-end fashion at pocket-friendly prices and provides them a platform to explore different evergreen trends.
• Changes perspectives: For the longest time thrifting had a stigma attached to it. However, the recent cultural shift in thrift shopping is changing this perspective. It encourages customers to show off their sense of environmental responsibility rather than blindly following the latest trends.

How Are Retailers Promoting Thrift Stores?

The growing popularity of thrift stores has redirected retailers towards reselling. Many retailers are embracing the thrift side of sustainability by launching their own resale programs and second-hand markets. The present focus on sustainability has turned the concept of reselling used clothes into a golden opportunity that’s convincing brands to establish their own identity in the retail space. And, no one is left behind. Be it designer brands like Burberry and Gucci or fast fashion giants like H&M, everyone’s climbed up the bandwagon. Sustainable fashion brands like Raw Revel have come up with initiatives like BORO (Buy One, Return One), where consumers can return a piece of their old clothing in exchange of buying a sustainable item from their store. These pre-loved returned goods are then divided into three categories and either sent to second hand stores for thrifting, donated as part of charity or recycled. 

Conclusion

In a world that’s suffering an environmental crisis due to the fashion industry’s overuse, thrift stores have emerged as saviors of sustainability. Buying pre-loved items from a thrift store cultivates a more conscious approach to consumption. It reduces environmental waste and resource depletion and promotes variety and affordability. 

So, the next time you’re in need of a wardrobe update to impress onlookers, give a thrift store a chance to impress you too. 

Look Good. Buy Used!