Thrift shop sign on back of pickup truck Photo by Chrissie Kremer on Unsplash
Thrifting is one of my favorite ways to shop for clothing! There are always such great finds for equally great prices, but why is this way of shopping also benefiting the environment?
Fast-fashion has a major impact on our planet. The mass production of clothes uses gallons of water and lots of greenhouse gases to just make one item of clothing. Jeans, shirts, you name it.
However, shopping for second-hand clothing slows down the rate of production and saves our resources.
Protestors holding a sign ‘For Fair Fashion – Fuck Fast Fashion’ Photo by Stefan Müller on Flickr
Another aspect of thrifting that helps our planet is how giving unwanted clothing to stores, rather than throwing it away, prevents plastic pollution.
Leonela Leon wrote an article titled “Why Thrifting is Good for the Planet, Not Just Your Wallet” and she highlights the benefits of thrifting while mentioning that 10.5 million tons of clothing are thrown into landfills every year.
“Studies have shown that 60 percent of the clothes made worldwide are made from synthetic materials (e.g. polyester, nylon, acrylic) a.k.a. plastic. When thrown away, they often sit in landfills for hundreds of years, if not forever,” Leon stated.
Since plastic does not biodegrade, clothing made from these materials won’t either. By thrifting clothes, you are preventing more plastic from polluting our landfills.
Polluted sidewalk covered in clothing and plastic Photo by Chauldry Agho on Unsplash
One last benefit to thrifting is that it reduces chemical pollution. The manufacturing of textiles uses many harmful dyes and chemicals. For example, 2nd Ave (2A) Thrift Stores had an article appear on their website “How Thrifting is Good for the Planet” and talks about the production of cotton.
“The production of cotton not only uses tons of water, but it’s also highly pesticide-intensive. This means that when cotton is produced and manufactured, it causes soil acidification and water contamination. And this is from material that many people consider sustainable,” 2A stated.
Even sustaining the production of a natural resource that is commonly used in clothing harms our planet. Starting to second-hand shop materials like cotton reduces chemical pollution.
Cotton field Photo by Trisha Downing on Unsplash
Thrifting saves our resources and prevents both plastic and chemical pollution. The great thing about living in Chicago is that there are so many different kinds of thrift stores all around the city. Below is a list of some of my favorite places I’ve gone to and also ones that I’m excited to visit in the future:
Green Element Resale– Location: Rogers Park
Brown Elephant – Location(s):
Andersonville
Lakeview
Village Discount Outlet – Location(s):
Andersonville
Logan Square
Buffalo Exchange – Location(s):
Andersonville
Wicker Park
Family Tree Resale – Location: Lincoln Square
Crossroads Trading – Location(s):
Andersonville
Lincoln Park
Wicker Park
Not only is thrifting benefiting the planet, but you’re also able to find unique clothing for more reasonable prices compared to buying something brand new. Happy thrifting, Chicagoans!
GIF : “I’m just that good at thrift shopping.”
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