Thrifting and How It Opens Opportunities for Youth
Thrifting is one of the best ways to expand your closet without spending so much money. It first grew popular in the 1990s and became even bigger in the 2010s and 2020s. Many people enjoy it because it’s affordable and offers unique pieces that can’t always be found in regular stores.
It influences many young people in our community by giving them an affordable way to explore fashion and express themselves. It allows students to try out different styles, be creative, and shop sustainably while staying within a budget. This makes fashion both creative and affordable, which is ideal for teenagers.
As one of the most economically safe methods of shopping, it also impacts the world by helping reduce waste and encouraging people to recycle clothing instead of throwing it away. It makes fashion more affordable and accessible, while promoting creativity through unique, secondhand styles.
“I like thrifting because it’s cheap & the things there have a vibe to it that I prefer to wear over overpriced clothes. I feel this way because [I believe] since someone once owned them, it feels somewhat vintage [and that] opens opportunities to younger people to allow them to not let clothes/things go to waste,” said freshman Michaiah Salien.
Thrifting is all about reuse and recycling since one person’s trash can easily become someone else’s treasure. By giving clothes and items a second life, it helps cut down on waste and keeps fashion more sustainable
“I enjoy thrifting so much because it gives so many items a second chance at life. Every piece of clothing or furniture has a story, I’m just lucky enough to keep it alive. I think thrifting makes younger people more aware of how expensive and poor quality modern products are. Thrifting gives you a better idea of what daily life used to look like a couple years back and how different everything is now,” said junior Melissa Marquez.
This shopping method has grown from a small trend into a worldwide tactic that’s affordable, creative, and eco-friendly. It lets people, especially younger teenagers, express themselves through unique styles while helping the planet by reusing and recycling items.
