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Commit to the Thrift

Let's do it for the Earth

By Reese MariePublished 4 years ago 4 min read
Third Place in Sustainability Hacks Challenge
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Commit to the Thrift
Photo by Sean Benesh on Unsplash

Fast fashion. We've heard the term before. We've heard that it's a large contributor to our carbon footprint. We've heard that that $5 t-shirt might have a much greater cost when it comes to the environment. So we look around to try to find a better option. But for many of us, it's difficult to make the jump from spending $5 on a t-shirt to $50, or even $20. And on top of that, spending more money doesn't necessarily equal ethical production. It can be very difficult to know what really goes into a piece of clothing. How much water was used to grow the cotton? How much unsustainable energy was used to run the machines? How much cheap labor was utilized? It's nearly impossible to know. But, when it comes to clothing (and other products), there is another option: The thrift store.

Thrifting has become a bit of a trend, which is great! But we need to make it more than a trend. Whenever you need a new piece of clothing, make it a habit to visit a thrift store, instead of the mall. I made the decision to thrift 100% of my clothes, and let me tell you, it's not as hard as you might think!

I'm gonna share with you a few reasons why you, too, might want to consider a commitment to thrift 100% of your clothes. But keep in mind, whenever it comes to taking action for the greater good, doing it imperfectly is better than not doing it at all. If you feel more comfortable starting off with a 50% commitment and working your way up, go for it! If you make the commitment, but then make a spur-of-the-moment purchase from H&M, don't beat yourself up! Just be sure you don't throw that t-shirt in the trash when you're done with it; donate it to a thrift store! Now, let's get into my reasons:

1. It's a way of recycling!

We all know the classic advice given when it comes to helping the environment: recycle! And it's true. We never want anything that could be reused or repurposed to end up in a landfill. Most clothes are durable enough to be worn longer than the original purchaser is into the style. That's where thrift stores come into play. As I mentioned before, you shouldn't beat yourself up if you did make an impulse fast-fashion buy. But just make sure you never throw any of your clothes in the garbage! There is somebody else out there who might love it. And when you shop at a thrift store, you're on the other end of the recycling equation. The clothes are getting a new life in your closet, instead of filling up a landfill.

2. You can still get a $5 t-shirt

$5, or less! It's a win-win when your shopping choices are both good for the environment and good for your wallet. Sometimes, we might feel that in order to shop sustainably, we have to be spending more money. But thrift stores turn that myth on its head!

3. It's for more than just clothes

I've found some pretty killer furniture deals at thrift stores! While many thrift stores have a large clothing section, you'll almost always find lots of other products. And, once again, it's a way of recycling those products that could otherwise end up in a landfill. So, if you want to take that commitment a step further, think about thrifting all of your houseware items or all of your furniture!

4. You won't believe the treasures you'll find

Truly. I have found some of my absolute favorite clothing items at thrift stores. Thrifting is honestly a win-win-win, good for the environment, good for your wallet, and good for your look! And now, in case you need a little bit more convincing to commit to the thrift, let me share with you a few of my favorite thrift store finds!

Let's start with a tip which, as you can tell, I'm pretty excited to share! If you don't have a lot of thrift stores where you live, just head to thredup.com. It's an online thrift store with a huge selection and great prices. It's also where I found these cute light wash jeans!

This white button down sweater from my local Goodwill is one of my all-time favs, and a piece I'll be able to wear for a long time!

And finally, who wouldn't want a green raincoat?

Thanks for reading, I hope you start finding some of your own thrift store treasures!

tips
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About the Creator

Reese Marie

"That the powerful play goes on and that you may contribute a verse"

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