Thrifting Sustains Us
Cute School-Appropriate Outfits for Cheap and for Good
Megan’s full school outfit
Fifi’s Fine Resale Apparel in San Marco is the perfect spot to find both cute and cheap school clothes. As well, one can find luxury handbags and gently used wedding dresses, making Fifi’s the go to stop for professional and formal wear.
According to the documentary, The True Cost, American consumers discard over 11 million tons of clothing annually. In order to produce these clothes, companies use huge amounts of toxic chemicals, dyes, and synthetic fabrics, which ultimately seep into our water supply. The environmental footprint left by these companies is gigantic and, arguably, destroying our planet.
The future of the fashion industry lies in the control of the consumer. If consumers prioritize environmental sustainability, the fashion industry will have no choice but to follow. One can do this by purchasing clothing from local thrift stores, like Fifi’s, or by buying secondhand products online on platforms like Depop.
Even if you are not a fan of secondhand clothing, you can find responsible brands.
On February 8th, Levi’s introduced their new line of environmentally sustainable denim. Denim is incredibly unsustainable.
Fashion United writes that in order to produce a singular pair of jeans, 20,000 liters of water are required. The new Levi’s line claims that their new styles are, “water-saving, tree-loving, and waste-reducing.”
Thrify Ethics 101:
Tik Tok Thrifters post hauls treasures they scored. If you are able to purchase 100+ dollars worth of second-hand clothes, should you really be thrifting? When upper- and middle-class people begin to thrift, are they taking resources from the poor?
The subject is complicated. Goodwill has been under scrutiny for its recent price increases. But there is no real evidence linking price increase to the wealthy thrifting. And your dollars help places like Hubbard House fund their domestic violence emergency shelters and programs.