We live in an age where fast fashion is king of the industry. For years, companies like Forever 21, H&M and Shein have reigned as the leader in circulating fashion trends. As consumers, we were seduced by the cheap prices and didn’t stop to realize that our on-trend polyester shirts and maxi dresses were actually harmful to the planet. It took years, but there may finally be a changing tide: Forever21 has declared bankruptcy and Shein customers are becoming more woke to the fact that their $4.99 t-shirts are because of slave labor. 

Now with an economy on the brink of combustion, people have a growing desire to save and reuse. One way to cut back on harmful and exploitative consumerism is by thrifting. Purchasing second hand clothing may be the key to not just surviving these tough economic times, but also a way to save the planet. So to help encourage you to do the right thing, here are four reasons why thrifting is good for our world. 

1. Landfills are Filled with Clothes

There are estimates that around 34 billion pounds of used textiles end up in a landfill. Fast fashion and over consumption of goods has led us to buying and then trashing things in a short period of time. We need to gain a practice of purchasing less and recycling what is already on the market. By sending our clothes to the thrift store and then buying “gently used” from that same store, we can slow down the life cycle of goods that would otherwise end up in the landfill.

2. Fewer Resources are Wasted or Polluted

It takes time, energy, money, and resources to make clothing. Growing crops that are turned into fabric materials involves high amounts of water and even pesticides. The excess use of pesticides may trickle into our water source and contaminate us. When we thrift clothing, we are cutting down on the demand for clothes. Less demand, means less production and that means less resources are used and wasted. 

3. Carbon Footprint is Reduced

Due to the demands of a global economy, a lot of production takes place in Asia. The supply chain is extensive and requires a lot of moving parts, namely a large carbon footprint. The air pollution that comes from an influx of planes carrying shipments of clothing is reduced when we shop locally and recycle our clothes. 

As we just celebrated Earth Day, let’s consider spending our days combing through the racks at our local thrift store. Happy thrifting!