by Kenzie David
It’s been six years since Macklemore released his hit song about thrift shopping. But the thrifting craze is as strong as ever. Thrift shopping is fun, saves money and also helps give back to the community.
Stores such as Forever 21 and H&M are known for reasonable pricing. However, there is a growing concern on the subject of outsourced and underpaid labor, which are tied to companies that specialize in fast fashion such as these.
In order to get to the bottom of the thrift store versus fast fashion debate, we decided to comparison shop. At Forever 21, one pair of high heeled leather shoes would set us back $25.90 (all prices before tax). That’s less than designer stores, however, virtually identical shoes can be purchased at a Goodwill for $5.99.
Goodwill shoes for $5.99
Forever 21 shoes for $25.90
Similarly, a denim jacket at Forever 21 is sold for $32.90. You can buy a similar jacket, in great condition, at Goodwill for $9.99. Just purchasing a tee shirt at Forever 21 costs $17.90. At a thrift shop you can get several shirts for that amount of money since tee shirts at Goodwill generally range from $2.90 to $3.99. These are just a few examples of the money you can save by thrift shopping.
Thrift shops often give back to local communities. Goodwill states on their website that they “work to enhance the dignity and quality of life of individuals and families by strengthening communities, eliminating barriers to opportunity, and helping people in need reach their full potential through learning and the power of work.”
There is always a valid concern that there are fewer options to choose from when you go to the thrift shop, but with that being said, the money saved is worth it. You might have to look around for a bit, but that’s part of the fun of thrifting.
Thrifting is popular among university students. Golden Cherry is an Instagram account created by college students who spend their time thrifting and even make a profit off of the pastime. These students thrift shop, fix up what they buy, and then advertise their creations for resale.
“Golden Cherry was created to empower girls specifically through fashion. Thrifting allows people to express themselves in a unique and affordable way,” according to Golden Cherry's website.
While not everyone may partake in thrifting in order to make money, there are many other positive outcomes and forms of profit that come from thrift shopping. Macklemore had it right: “One man’s trash, that’s another man’s come-up.”
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