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One thing I love about fashion is that you can express yourself and change the world’s perception of you with just one outfit. However, many consumers have used “reinvention” as an excuse to over-indulge in fast fashion. Mariam Webster defines fast fashion as “an approach to the design, creation and marketing of clothing fashions that emphasizes making fashion trends quickly and cheaply available to consumers.” According to Earth.org, the fashion industry produces 10% of global gas emissions, and fast fashion is one of the reasons why.
One of the best ways to fight against fast fashion is thrift shopping. Thrift shopping, or thrifting, is buying clothes second hand, in person or online. While most people often associate thrift shopping with shopping in person, there are many online thrift shopping apps and websites. It can be daunting to face endless online secondhand shopping options. Follow my tips for making the most out of online thrifting.
Finding where to shop
There are plenty of apps and websites for secondhand shopping, so you just need to find the one that is the best for your thrifting needs. If you’re looking for more trendy clothes, Depop is for you. The app has an easy-to-use interface with many diverse clothing options. The clothes can be overpriced at times, but I’ll touch on how to find lower-priced options later. If you want to find true-vintage items at reasonable prices, check Etsy. I recommend Thredup to find basics at low prices. Ebay is best for finding second-hand jewelry and vintage college apparel. Mercari is great if you’re interested in vintage bags and accessories. TheRealReal is good for finding true luxury goods, such as designer handbags, apparel and accessories.
Sizing features
After making your account on the app or website, you can set which sizes you usually use while shopping. This setting makes it convenient when searching through all of the available clothes. If the app that you are using doesn’t list the measurements of the clothes listed, either message the seller or look up the size chart of the item being sold.
Filters, filters and more filters
Filters allow you to pick and choose which items show up in your search. For example, if you’re searching up black tops, but only want tops with 3/4th length sleeves, you would adjust the sleeve length filter. Filters are a great way to make sure you’re finding the options you want. Using search terms doesn’t always work, so using as many filters as possible is ideal.
Using the sort feature
One of the many perks of thrifting is spending less on clothes. When sorting your products from least to most expensive, it puts the cheapest clothes at the top of your screen. Not only does this tip save you money, I found it can often lead you to hidden gems.
I hope these tips help you when thrift shopping online. Thrift shopping is one of the most sustainable ways to shop. Just remember not to over consume–even when thrifting, overconsumption leads to massive waste and pollution. Have fun thrifting!
Edited by Ever Cole | ecole@gmail.com
Copy Edited by Lauren Courtney and Emily Rutledge | erutledge@themaneater.com