How Thrifting Has Affected Fashion Trends
Image Courtesy: WWD
After spreading awareness about the harms of fast fashion, Gen Z has made it a trend to shop second-hand. Many brands, such as Shein, have recently been put on blast for the harmful conditions they force upon their workers. This includes extremely long workdays with no breaks, the use of child labor, and paying workers salaries that were almost impossible to live off of. Most people agreed that they did not want to purchase from companies that enforced such practices on their employees, so they began to search for more sustainable options. And of course, thrifting became the perfect solution.
Buying second-hand clothing is much more sustainable than fast fashion, as all the garments are recycled items. Plus, the items sold in thrift stores are much more affordable than any clothes you would find in a mall. This encouraged Gen Z to begin searching through thrift stores for fashionable pieces, and it soon became a massive trend.
Image Courtesy: The Beacon
Younger generations began to consider going to stores like Goodwill for a fun outing. What once was considered a symbol of poverty, now represents a concern for the planet and future generations. Consumers love that they can fill their closets with affordable, authentic pieces that no one else owns and enjoy spending time with their friends searching for garments that reflect their personality. The shift towards buying second-hand clothing has caused changes in how we view fashion.
Once thrifting became popular, the garments Gen Z purchased were much more unique than items that used to be trendy. Many pieces of clothing they bought were old and therefore gave a vintage look. Some of them were discontinued items from major brands that can no longer be bought in stores, while others were pieces from the 60s or 70s that showed how styles that used to be popular in the past often cycle and return decades later.
Now that younger generations have access to pieces that are so different from what would be sold in many retail stores, people have begun to style outfits that don’t necessarily match any current trends. They started to create their own fashion trends that echoed their persona. Gen Z embraces their sense of individuality much more than they did in the past and started to alter clothing they found in thrift stores to fit their style better.
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Many members of Gen Z opt to buy certain garments specifically because they like the fabric that was used, even if the size of the piece doesn’t necessarily fit them. They then go home and alter their outfit to complement their body type—whether it be adding a corset to the back of a shirt they liked or using shoelaces to make baggy pants accentuate their natural shape.
Fashion has become much more innovative than it once was in years prior, even inspiring runway designers to mimic the looks of thrifted clothing and reinvent looks from past collections. Thrifting has made the fashion world much more diverse, and people are not as afraid to express themselves through their clothing. This trend has helped construct a mindset that it is okay to dress differently than everyone else and has encouraged the idea of embracing your own sense of style.
Strike Out,
Writer: Zara Khan
Editor: Isabel Wilder
Tallahassee