The Art of Thrifting

Fashion is said to move forward, but thrifting takes fashion’s evolution in a unique and exciting direction — wearing secondhand clothing is moving fashion forward while reusing the clothes we already have. Thrifting is not only beneficial for its environmental-positive impact but also for transforming social media clothing trends — bringing in a new level of enthusiasm and allowing for creative experimentation for all ages.
Recently, I’ve noticed an increase in shopping from second-hand clothing boutiques. However, I didn’t understand why people were so eager to visit thrift stores. But after a trip to a San Francisco Goodwill, I fell in love with thrifting. As someone who likes fashion, feeling that joyous anticipation and curiosity of walking into a thrift store has made my shopping experience significantly more special because I never know which pieces will catch my eye.
Furthermore, thrifting has brought back a love for vintage looks, from jewelry to dresses to tank tops. Thrifted outfit ideas fill Instagram feeds and TikTok For You Pages, inspiring more people to follow the trend. Despite thrifting becoming a trendy way of shopping, I believe thrifting should also be for people to experiment and express themselves, given there are countless “one-of-a-kind” clothes at thrift stores. Additionally, thrifting is a sustainable and affordable way to shop for clothing. Fast fashion and the production of clothing contribute to pollution, specifically harming the atmosphere and oceans. Over-consumerism of clothing has been at a new high because fashion brands are constantly overproducing. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 85% of all textiles end up in landfills, which approximately means each person produces about 81.5 pounds of textile waste per year. Fortunately, advocacy movements for sustainable fashion have made this environmental crisis more well-known, and thrifting is a great practice to combat this crisis.
In the Bay Area, there are many unique thrift stores to choose from. Goodwill Boutique in Menlo Park, Turnstyle Thrift Shop in San Mateo, Sainted Goods Boutique in Belmont, The Shop in Menlo Park, and Pick of the Litter Thrift Shop in Burlingame are all excellent locations to thrift your new go-to outfit. My personal favorite is Goodwill Boutique in West Portal, San Francisco; this store and thrifting itself have changed my mindset about purchasing clothing in a new and sustainable way.