It goes without saying that people are looking for more ways to save money with the spiralling cost of living. Thrifting is now a word that we use regularly. The thrifting act has grown in popularity with more and more second hand sites popping up as well as big brands selling on preloved goods. From Patagonia to Ikea.
The act of thrifting helps buyers save money, reuse clothes and save the environment. Rumage was built with this in mind to help money go further and lighten the load on our planet.
People have been thrifting since the 1920s
In the 1920s thrift stores popped up as a way to beat the Great Depression as many people just could not afford to buy new.
As hard times have hit us right now, with rising costs, preloved has again grown in popularity. At Rumage we want to help people shop for good second hand stuff. We want to remove the stigma of buying and selling used items.
Clothes have been seen as almost ‘disposable’. This is not good for the environment and even if they are cheap overall this mass consumerism costs!
But it’s not just about saving cash
Gen Z and Millennials are phone obsessed. Scrolling through blogs and social sites to get inspiration on everything from the news to fashion. And these generations are looking to second hand to build their own unique style. From mix and match to high end vintage they are searching in markets, second hand stores and using online sites.
The ThredUp Report states that Millenials and Gen Z are adopting shopping for second hand clothing 2.5 times faster than other generations. 76% would choose ‘not new’ if it was easier.
“Thrifting is about more than just finding amazing deals on your favourite brands. It’s about shopping with intention, rejecting throwaway fashion culture, and standing for sustainability. The clothes we wear have the power to create change.”
ThredUp
These two generations are more likely to buy second hand because they want to shop more sustainably and ethically. Mix that with the fact that shopping this way is often the only way to buy scarce, limited-edition or vintage items and thrifting is more important than ever!
Thrifting lightens the load on the planet
Shopping this way helps save water and reduce carbon emissions. Water is limited and Sustainable Campus found that the fashion industry consumes an average of 79 billion cubic meters of water every year. Mix that with the findings of the Smart Guide to Climate Change which says that the fashion industry produces about 10% of carbon emissions, and you know you can do your bit by shopping better, recycling and reusing clothes.
Thrifting reduces textile waste
Textile waste is a growing problem around the world. According to data from the Environmental Protection Agency, 17 million tons of textile waste ended up in landfills. The shocker is that this will take up to 200 or more years to decompose. And, 84% of clothing also ends up in landfill or incinerator sites. With more second hand stores and websites reselling or recycling clothes now, hopefully we will make a dent on the tonnage of textile waste.
As the cost of living crisis deepens today, making the effort to extend the life of something could make all the difference.