If you've ever heard someone say they're going to go thrifting, you might be wondering what they mean. Simply put, thrifting means to go shopping at a thrift store, garage sale, or flea market where you'll find gently used items at discounted prices.
A charity shop (British English), thrift shop or thrift store (American English and Canadian English, also includes for-profit stores such as Savers) or opportunity shop or op-shop (Australian English and New Zealand English) is a retail establishment run by a charitable organization to raise money.
Learn Canadian Slang Episode 4 – Shopping Downtown
Why is it called thrifting?
The word "thrift" was chosen to reflect the values of frugality and careful use of resources that were at the heart of these organizations. By shopping at a thrift store, customers were not only able to save money on their purchases, but were also able to support a good cause and contribute to the broader community.
Seventy-five percent of all United States consumers and 83% of U.S. consumers belonging to Generation Z have either shopped or are willing to shop for second-hand apparel, according to online consignment and thrift platform thredUP's 2023 annual resale report.
“These days secondhand shopping is becoming the norm and, in many cases, preferred to buying brand new because of the wide variety of clothing available and the affordability compared to buying from a traditional retail store,” she said. Thrifting started to become a fashion trend during the pandemic thanks to TikTok.
As sustainability has become more of a priority for consumers, the demand for alternatives has soared; in 2023, the thrifting market will see an estimated 1.4% growth pushing the annual revenue to over $14.2 billion.
Right now, we see a surge of new customers looking for trendy styles like bulky, oversized fits and quilted designs. ' But it is not just about trends; it's a movement towards comfort and sustainability. It's a shift not only in fashion but in mindset, making thrifting a trendy and environmentally conscious choice.
In the United Kingdom, terms in common usage include "supermarket" (for larger grocery stores), "corner shop", "convenience shop", or "grocery" (meaning a grocery shop) for smaller stores. "Grocery store", being a North American term, is not used.
A 2022 survey found out that four in 10 consumers purchased secondhand goods, while another one-third of consumers sold their used items on the secondhand market.
Thrifting offers an alternative to the fast fashion model by promoting the reuse and recycling of clothing and other items. By shopping for secondhand items, you can: Reduce waste: Purchasing pre-owned items helps prevent them from ending up in landfills or being incinerated, thereby reducing overall waste generation.
Vintage shops have much higher prices than thrift stores; because of the merchandise. Unlike thrift stores, which often receive their products through donations, Vintage stores seek out/buy their products from sellers with products that fit their store's persona.
Thrifting skips multiple checkpoints of sustainability as new material need not be brought in, no additional manufacturing takes place, no labour is required to make the clothes, no carbon is used up in transportation, no money is spent on marketing and so on.
Some Gen Zers view thrifting and reselling as a challenge to find the diamond in the rough. This generation is known to value their individuality and creativity, thrifting allows them to do just that. Gen Z is making a conscious effort to reduce their environmental impact through sustainable fashion practices.
They are flocking to thrift and vintage stores in search of authentic retro looks. As much as 62% of Gen Z and Millennials say they look for an item secondhand before they buy a new version of it, according to the 2022 annual industry report from secondhand marketplace ThredUP.
Y2K fashion is everywhere – from ultra-baggy jeans to super-faded band tees – but what drives Gen Z's obsession with fashion from past eras? Alongside a search for authentic self-expression, Gen Zers desire to look back through nostalgia-tinted glasses to avoid the stresses of contemporary life.
Reality: The concern of hygiene is often the first thing holding people back from buying second hand. Places that support these forms of slow fashion (thrifting, swapping, pre-loved items) already have policies in place to ensure their wearability.
The rise in thrift store's popularity and presence in social media was most notably seen after 2015 on websites such as Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube.
Currently, 83% of Gen Z Americans already shop or are willing to thrift secondhand items, and by 2027, Gen Z will account for approximately 28% of the secondhand market, according to ThredUp.
Thrifting has become a way the younger generation sees a solution to reducing their environmental footprint and contributing to anti-capitalist solutions while still being able to develop a sense of self through expression.
"The first thing to do once you've thrifted something is to air it out," Cameron says. "Leave it outside or in a well-ventilated area, such as a porch or balcony, for a few hours or even a day if possible. The fresh air will help eliminate some of the musty smell." It is best to do this on a sunny day.
Things constantly go in and out of style, fast fashion stores are overall just not good for the environment and constantly change. On the other hand, thrift stores not only recycle clothes that could have ended up polluting the Earth even more, but they also help save the environment!
