AKA The Ultimate Treasure Hunt
I was 16 when I was first introduced to the concept of thrift shopping. Passionate about fashion and a high school student with no job, second hand stores became my holy grail. There is nothing more satisfying than finding a unique piece of clothing that you love and can't get anywhere else. Even if I didn't end up finding anything during a thrift trip, I still enjoyed the hunt and walked away satisfied and eager to continue my search another time. Then there was also the guilt free aspect. I didn't feel bad about buying clothes to give them a second life. I found myself at my local thrift store at least once a week, drudging through clothing and exploring different styles. Seeing the life of each individual piece of clothing and its potential inspired my creativity.
It's no secret that fashion waste is a huge problem. Every year, around 92 million tonnes of textile waste is produced by the fashion industry and ends up piled high in a landfill. On top of this, the industry is responsible for a whopping 10% of global carbon emissions. Thanks to fast fashion, throwaway culture has gotten progressively worse and the amount of times a piece of clothing is worn before it is thrown out has decreased immensely. Trends come and go faster than ever. The average American throws out 81.5 lbs of clothing every year and many pieces only get worn 7 or 10 times before they end up being tossed.
Unfortunately, this is only the tip of the fashion waste iceberg. I could go on and on about how wasteful the fashion industry is and the harm it is doing to the environment, but that would get depressing really quick.
The point is that something needs to change. The way that the fashion industry and fashion culture currently operate is not functional for the environment. While we can’t change the entire fashion industry, we can change the way we each individually do fashion and participate in fashion waste. Recognizing the part we play is vital to creating the change that we would like to see. Everyone can play a part in making fashion more sustainable in some way.
To start, one of the easiest ways to begin practicing sustainable fashion is through second-hand buying. Not only is this a sustainable fashion practice, but it can even be developed into a fun hobby. It is guilt free, affordable, reduces fashion waste and can be a perfect way to get creative and explore with different styles.
First and foremost, explore your local thrift stores! You never know what you may find. Almost all of my favorite pieces of clothing are secondhand pieces. Even as time passes, I continue to love them and treasure them because I know I’m not going to find anything like it anywhere else. It can become the ultimate treasure hunt. Over time your closet will turn into your own unique personal collection. Taking the time to find a piece that is unique to you is a whole different shopping experience. It becomes more rewarding and fulfilling to know that you're giving something a second-life.
The next time there is a new fashion trend you want to participate in, or there is a specific piece or look you are going for, try to get it second-hand. Scour your local thrift stores, there may be more in your area than you think. Go on your own personal treasure hunt and find peace in knowing that whatever pieces you buy are being kept from winding up in a landfill.