"Rethink. Recreate. Redo. Remix. Recycle. Repurpose. Restore your world." - Unknown.
Thrifting and Reusing |
Many people donate and buy their clothes from second-hand stores, as most buy their clothes from top brands and stores. However, most people don't know what is happening to our environment when new clothes are being produced and old clothes are being thrown away. And many people don't know the benefits of buying old clothes.
When people hear the ideas of thrifting for old clothes, their first thought probably goes to "who previous worn these clothes?" But that's not the only purpose of these clothes- that they were previously worn by someone. The other purpose for these clothes at the thrift store is to get a second chance, to live longer until they aren't one piece anymore.
If you look at the clothing in the thrift stores, you can see how many of those clothes are in good quality and newer than most of the clothes. As well, it can save you lots of money. For myself, there's a fine line between buying clothes from second-hand stores and stores at the mall.
You can find almost anything in second-hand stores, and it can even help find your identity. Many people believe that buying clothes in a thrift store can build your identity and its proven. I have a friend who gets most of her clothes from a thrift store and she did build her own identity from that, its pretty unique.
When people hear the ideas of thrifting for old clothes, their first thought probably goes to "who previous worn these clothes?" But that's not the only purpose of these clothes- that they were previously worn by someone. The other purpose for these clothes at the thrift store is to get a second chance, to live longer until they aren't one piece anymore.
If you look at the clothing in the thrift stores, you can see how many of those clothes are in good quality and newer than most of the clothes. As well, it can save you lots of money. For myself, there's a fine line between buying clothes from second-hand stores and stores at the mall.
You can find almost anything in second-hand stores, and it can even help find your identity. Many people believe that buying clothes in a thrift store can build your identity and its proven. I have a friend who gets most of her clothes from a thrift store and she did build her own identity from that, its pretty unique.
Did You Know? |
Thrift shopping not only has benefits for us but benefits for the environment as well. On average, Americans will throw away nearly 10.5 millions of clothes every year that will end up in the landfill. When clothes make it to the landfill, it will sit for hundreds of years before it decomposes.
Good condition clothes should be donated to second-hand stores or placed in donation bins. Many good clothes are thrown away and should be given more chances to be worn until they start to show no more signs of life. When we think about throwing away clothes, we don't think about the benefits it could do for others. In the United States, many citizens rely on second-hand stores to get the necessary items they need. Purchases are made daily from second-hand stores from shoppers who bought clothing. Second-hand stores mark clothes at reasonable prices that we can afford. This comes in extremely helpful to those who don't make enough money. Second-hand stores can save a lot of money. As mentioned, they price their items at affordable prices. At any given "high-quality" store, a pair of jeans could cost anywhere between $45-$150. But at the second-hand stores, a similar pair of jeans would cost between $5.99-$8.99. An article I had read that asked second-hand shoppers about their view on thrift shopping, most had said it helps build their identiy. Some had said they prefer to shop at second-hand stores than other stores. From a personal view point, I know a few people who get their clothes from second-hand stores and they said the same thing. It allows themselves to build their idenity, and to find and match their style. Thrifting does have that benefit of styling it the way you want it. I always shop at second-hand stores to find shirts that I can crop to wear. As well, to find a specific shirt that I know I would only wear once for spirit week or themed football games. |
Benefits For Our Environment |
Thrift shopping can save our environment one step at a time. By donating and buying clothes from second-hand stores, we can prevent clothes from sitting in landfills for hundreds of years. New clothes are made with a lot of material that we could save and use for different items that are needed the most.
One pair of blue jeans are made with 1,800 gallons of water. That many gallons of water in a single pair of jeans could be used for clean drinking water and other purposes. Synthetic fabrics release a nitrous oxide that is 310 times stronger than carbon dioxide itself. 60% of clothes are made with synthetic materials such as polyester, nylon, acrylic, plastic, etc. Americans throw away 70lbs of clothing and other textile waste annually. The textile recycling industry recycles on average 3.8 billion pounds of post-consumer textile waste each year which still leaves about 85% of textile waste in landfills. 15% of the clothing that is recycled from the textile recycling industry will be donated or recycled. The amount of textile waste grew by 40% since 1999. Thrift shopping is eco-friendly. By donating and buying clothes from second-hand stores, we can decrease these numbers significantly. We can save and use water for purposes that are needed, and not to make a pair of jeans with 1,800 gallons of water. We can eliminate the amount of textile waste in landfills to zero if we all try. |
How To Get Started |
We can start saving our environment in three easy ways.
The first way is to donate. We can donate almost everything that is in good condition. From clothes to furniture to old antique items that can all be donated. Instead of throwing away clothes and items that will sit in landfills for years, we can donate it to second-hand stores. Second-hand stores prevent these items from sitting in landfills and offers another life, another purpose, for them. The second way is to buy from second-hand stores. The second-hand store provides goods for people who can not afford expensive items. These items are marked cheap at reasonable prices. On certain days, second-hand stores have discount days - such as 50% off each item. As well, buying items at second-hand stores can help build personal identity. The third way is to refurbish. By refurbishing the items we buy from second-hand stores, we can build how we would like them to be. We can redesign clothes to how we want to style. We can buy old furniture and fix it. There are so many ways we can refurbish the items you buy at second-hand stores to make it your own. With these three easy steps, we will be able to save the environment together. In years to come, we hope that fewer clothes will end up in landfills. We hope that textile waste will decrease. And lastly, we hope that more people will consider thrift shopping. |
From People Who Thrift Shop |
Many thrift shop for the same reasons, and others have unique answers to why they thrift. Thrifting generates the same concept for all. As well, thrifting builds personal identity. You are able to find what you want that creates this identity. I asked people in York, Pennsylvania to answer a few questions on thrift shopping; what do you thrift shop for, how often do you go, and why do you thrift shop.
Senior Bree Durost at Central York High School had stated, "I shop for shirts and sweat shirts, and I go at least five times a year. I shop to find new outfits for cheap, as well I am able to find bigger brands, like champion, that are cheaper than the actual price." Bigger brands that are in thrift shop are in very good condition and are fairly new. Many don't realize you can get these brands for more than half of the original cost. Recently, I had purchased a retired Ravens Linebacker R. Lewis jersey for $15.99; when on the official NFL store, you can purchase the same jersey for $149.99. Former local, Taeya Richardson had said, "I thrift shop for clothes and house decor. I usually go once or twice a month. I thrift because it's cheaper and you can find some really great things. Thrift shopping is fun because its like going on a scavenger hunt." There is everything from clothing to house decor to furniture to even old antique items in thrift stores. You can find almost anything that you are looking for. It is the perfect way to save money, saving the enviornment, and giving things another life. Senior Athena Swords at Central York High School had said, "I buy most of my clothes from thrift shops. I'm in Salvation Army every Wednsesday and I thrift shop because I think every item has a story... Not only are they cheaper, but they have a life." And she is right. Every item has a story and has a life. She went on to say, "Every piece of clothing was loved and worn at some special point... The mugs were spipped from early in the morning to late at night..." The items came from people who cared enough to donate them to give these items another life. Local, Wayne Doughty, goes to the thrift store twice a month to see what he could find. "I thrift shop to find old antique items, and things that you don't often see. You can get everything for cheap, and I love discount Wednesdays." Everyone that had answered the questions all had similar answers. You would be surprised to see who thrifts and why. All items have a purpose and should not be thrown away. Many cherish what they find from these thrift stores and often hold special places in peoples hearts. Especially to the ones that build their identity. |
Celeberties and Thrifting |
Not only do we thrift shop, but there are many celebrities that thrift shop as well. Many people have got inspiration from these celebrities to go out and do the same. Hopefully, this will help change the mindset of yours.
No pun intended, Macklemore does thrift shop. Most of Macklemores wardrobe is from second-hand stores. He especially uses second-hand stores when he goes on the road preforming shows, it comes in handy. Thrifting does not affect his career if he is able to sell shows or not. Instead, it spreads awareness and inspiration that we can do the same. Anne Hathaway is second-hand store all the way. She prefers to get most of her clothing at second-hand stores because she is commited to having an eco-friendly and substainable fashion. As well, she wears eco-friendly accesories too. Personally, Anne Hathaway is spreading so much awareness and we should deffinetly take notes from her! There are other celeberites like Lorde, Zooey Deschanel, Julia Roberts, and more who thrift shop. These celebrities are on the right track to saving our environment and making purchases at second-hand stores. |
Where To Find A Second-Hand Store
For my project, I went to two of the many local second-hand stores in York, Pennsylvania. If you are interested in going to these stores or finding one near you:
The Salvation Army Family Store & Donation Store 1090 Haines Rd, York, PA 17403 Goodwill Store & Donation Center 965 Loucks Rd, York, PA 17404 Other local-second hand stores in York, Pennsylvania are: My Girlfriends Wardrobe 38 N Beaver St, York, PA, 17401 Twice Upscale Resale 1320 W Market St #3402, West York, PA, 17404 St Mary's Thrift Store 26 E College Ave, York, PA 17401 |
The Salvation Army Family Store & Donation Center on
1090 Haines Rd, York, PA 17403 |