Posted by The New Paltz High School community discusses current trends in thrifting in an effort to raise awareness of the harmful effects.
By: Ruth Kurland, Writer
Featured Image by Tierney Reed, Artist
As thrifting has become increasingly trendy, it seems to have lost its original purpose. Thrifting has been dominated by fast fashion and has become less about the recycling of clothing and more about the trend, taking away from people who use thrifting as a valuable resource due to financial need or consciousness around environmental issues.
Since 2020, thrifting has become a large trend on social media, with apps like TikTok and Instagram amplifying the trend. This has caused a rise in over thrifting, influencers and social media users thrifting for a video or just because it is popular.
“It’s come to the point where people are calling their idea of thrifting ‘environmentally conscious’ and not just greedy,” Anna Guido, a 17-year-old thrift store worker and student, says. “You’ll see people doing ‘thrift hauls’ on the internet where they display 30+ pieces of clothing that they’ll only wear once or twice.”
Although thrifting has become a problem because of current internet trends, there are other ways to get second-hand clothing.
Overconsumption of thrifting not only takes away the clothes from those who rely on it, but can also cause an inflation in prices in the thrifting “industry.” influencers who buy an abundance of clothes at the thrift store can usually afford to buy “new clothes” and do not need to take away the ones from the thrift store. Additionally, people who mass shop at thrift stores tend to resell the clothes they come across at an extremely inflated price.
“I absolutely have noticed an uptick in price over the past few years,” said 17-year-old, New Paltz High School Peer Leadership co-president, Ramiina Chowdury. “The phenomenon of thrifted clothing being insanely marked up on reselling websites is horrible and shouldn’t continue; I think that’s where the main issue is.”
Although thrifting at thrift stores has become a problem because of current internet trends, there are other ways to get second-hand clothing in more inviting and possibly more accessible places. Many communities hold clothing swaps as well as local yard sales. These create a deeper relationship with your community, as well as getting second-hand clothing that is of good quality and a reasonable price, or even for free. For example, there are clothing swaps held at the SUNY New Paltz campus where students can come and donate and take clothing for free. (Sodergren)
At New Paltz High School, there are free clothing racks provided by the Peer Leadership/Education club. These racks are maintained with donations from students and accessible to the whole school community. They are used by the majority of the student body and are a valuable resource for the school. These racks also contribute to the environmental and financial elements that are important to thrifting. The racks introduce these concepts to the student body with the widespread awareness of the racks throughout the school.
The clothing rack is an important resource for those who need donations and is enjoyable for other students who just want to browse free used clothing. It ensures that students who are in need of clothing or have friends or family who are in need of clothing have a resource to fall back on that will be there consistently throughout their time at the school.
“I see students just about every day looking through the racks,” said Mrs. Magnetico, New Paltz High School health teacher and supervisor of the Peer Leadership club. “Sometimes they take them just because they like the clothes; some take them for friends and family; and some really need them either in the moment, [when] they are cold or need a shirt for gym, or for home.”
“I think the clothing rack is an incredibly valuable resource within our school,” Chowdury says. “Not only does it provide students with an essential resource for free, but I believe the clothing rack helps to foster a sense of community. The clothing racks’ mere existence can make students feel like their school, and by extension, their peers since the rack is stocked by Peer Leadership, is looking out for them.”
The clothing rack supports the original values that were instilled in thrifting before the internet trend began.
The clothing rack supports the original values that were instilled in thrifting before the trend began. Not only are you able to find clothes you like, in a more environmentally conscious way, but also be in support of those who need to shop second-hand because of the more affordable price. The cart provides good-quality clothes for free that are available to all those who need or want them. Additionally, it engages the student body in a good cause and creates a feeling of safety and community within the school.
“Students who have donated have often seen other students wearing their clothes, and it makes them feel good to help someone else out, ”Magnetico says. “Everything is also free, so it takes the pressure off, and because the clothes are available to everyone, which creates a feeling of safety to take what you want or need.”
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