“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.
The top three reasons Gen Z are buying used clothing is to save money, to be more sustainable, and to have more fun shopping, the report said. The market for secondhand goods in the United States is expected to more than double to 82 billion dollars by 2026, from 35 billion dollars in 2021, according to the report.
For Gen Z, thrifting is more than just an affordable practice; it's a form of self-expression. With a wide range of one-of-a-kind items in thrift stores, they're able to find unique pieces that reflect their personal style. Some Gen Zers view thrifting and reselling as a challenge to find the diamond in the rough.
Gen Z's interest in the nostalgic aesthetic may not be as surface-level as it seems. They are a generation growing up in turbulent times, where instability is rife – jumping back into the past is an easy way to circumvent the stresses and anxiety associated with living in the present.
Thrifting is not only a more sustainable option, but it's also a creative way to breathe new life into pre-loved clothing. By giving new life to existing clothing, we can reduce the amount of waste going into landfills and save our environment.
WHY IS THRIFTING COOL NOW? (& how to get ahead of 90% of trends 😎 )
Why is thrifting so addictive?
People thrift because they are looking for treasure. Thrifting can be compared to hunting, which is why they enjoy the thrill of seeking their best find. Consequently, when they find some valuable items regularly, they get tempted to go back more frequently.
Clothing and textiles that are donated to thrift stores are not laundered before they end up in the store and could contain lots of bacteria or even bedbugs. Some of these clothes are so dirty, a thrift shop will likely immediately throw them away.
Many Gen Z slang terms were not coined by Gen Z members and were already in usage and simply made more mainstream. In some cases, some Gen Z slang has been derived from African-American Vernacular English, which has led to accusations of cultural appropriation.
The Zeds are the 'up-ageing' generation because they are growing up faster. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that children are beginning puberty three months earlier every decade. They are also in education earlier and are exposed to marketing younger.
Status and prestige are out–sustainability and inclusivity are in. Millennial and Gen Z consumers are prepared to pay a premium for sustainable and ethical products.
Thrifting started to become a fashion trend during the pandemic thanks to TikTok. Thrifting hauls have become so popular on the app that there is an entire subculture coined “ThriftTok.” The hashtag #ThriftTok alone has 1.6 billion views.
The National Association of Retail and Thrift Shops has attributed the favorability of thrift shops has increased due to awareness of the need for waste reduction and environmental impact. They have also credited generation-z for popularizing thrift shopping as a sustainability effort.
The concept of thrift dates back to the early 19th century when charities and religious organizations would collect second-hand clothing and sell them to raise funds for their causes. However, it wasn't until the Great Depression of the 1930s that thrift shopping gained widespread popularity.
It's okay to buy fast fashion secondhand, though definitely wise not to completely fill your closet with it. It's not just smart for the planet, and it's smart for your wallet to employ moderation when it comes to these pieces so that you aren' t left spending constantly to replace the low-quality items.
While there's no “perfect” day to shop second hand stores, many regulars swear by shopping early on Monday and Tuesday. Homeowners tend to drop off garage sale leftovers on Sunday nights, making for new finds. Plus, the weekends are more crowded shopping days, so employees look to restock early in the week.
Thrifting has now become a preferred way of shopping for clothing. The resale market is expected to be worth around $350 billion by 2027, according to a report done by thredUP.
According to Cigna International Health's 2023 survey of almost 12,000 workers around the world, 91% of 18-to-24-year-olds report being stressed – compared to 84% on average. Research indicates Gen Z are emerging as the most stressed demographic in the workplace, and struggling mightily to cope.
The average life expectancy of baby boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z are different. Compared to the 70-year life expectancy of baby boomers and the 85-year life expectancy of Gen X, Gen Z is predicted to have a life expectancy of over 100 years.
To explain Gen Z's fascination with the 2000s, many specialists cite the "nowstalgia" effect. These young people idealise a past they barely knew. This effect is not unique to this generation, but a society in crisis generally gives rise to an even greater sense of nostalgia.
Letter Solver did research to determine the most loved Gen Z slang words. The terms “sleeping on” and “yeet” were the most popular. “Sleeping on” is used when someone is saying a person is missing out on something good, while “yeet” is used to mean “throw,” but also as a generic positive exclamation.
Cheugy (pronounced chew-gee, for the uninitiated) is a term coined by Gen Z and defined by Urban Dictionary as a “catch-all word” to describe anything untrendy, uncool or “basic”.
It can take months and even years for these materials to fully break down in landfills! By choosing to buy secondhand clothing instead of brand new, you reduce waste and help the planet. In this way, thrift shopping is the ultimate way to live out the ” reduce, reuse, recycle” motto!
We mistakenly look for confidence in the clothes that we wear or the car that we drive. We seek to recover from loss, loneliness, or heartache by purchasing unnecessary items. We seek fulfillment in material things. And we try to impress other people with the things that we own rather than the people that we are.
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!
