3 minute read

THRIFTING ETHICALLY: 3 KEY MANTRAS

BY MAXWELL WILKENS

It’s no secret that thrifting is on the rise – and not just in Santa Barbara. According to secondhand apparel vendor and research group Thredup, secondhand retail generated $119 billion worldwide in 2022, up from $96 billion in 2021. With 73% of consumers in the United States having either thrifted or expressed an interest in thrifting, it’s time to have that necessary “keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times” conversation (minus the outrageous southern drawl that they do before Disney’s Thunder Mountain).

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Whether you just tag along with your thrift-savvy friends or view secondhand apparel as your second religion, here are three tips to maximize sustainability and support for atneed communities while traversing the expanding world of thrifting.

Avoid Purchasing Essential Items

It's one thing if you’ve been eyeing that pink boa and want to make an investment in the future of your fabulousness –speaking from personal experience here, of course. But before heading to the checkout line, remind yourself that a lot of folks rely on secondhand stores for essential items like socks, underwear, and business attire. While an increased interest in thrifting is all well and good, it has caused secondhand apparel prices to go up significantly in the last couple of years, which makes these once-budget vendors less viable options for at-need communities.

When November rolls around, that coat on aisle two may feel like the crowning jewel of your immaculate winter outfit. And, yes, it’s true that

Avoid Purchasing In Excess

Thrifting is often touted as something that contributes to environmental sustainability, and for good reason: if you purchase something secondhand, you’re extending its life before its trip to a landfill. Best of all, you look like hot stuff while doing it.

powerhouse that would make the Dalai Lama proud.

Goodwill - The Bottom Line - and Local Alternatives

those sneakers would accentuate your ankles and make all the eighteenthcentury venetian suitors come running, but –for somebody of less economic fortune – that bargain footwear or down winter coat may offer more serious merit. Your hobby may be another’s necessity.

Before hitting the checkout aisle, give yourself a second to think about your closet. If you already have a plethora of similar items, maybe you should pop it back on the rack.

At the end of the day, I can promise you that the Purple Rain tee-shirt is calling your name (and, no, being a Prince fan is not a prerequisite to sport the wicked purple motorcycler across your bosom). But ask yourself first whether somebody else may need an affordable essential

But it’s important to remember your contribution to sustainability can only function if you don’t buy out the whole store. Facetiousness aside, if you always walk away from thrifting with your arms full, it may be time to reconsider your purchasing patterns: too many clothes is too many clothes – period – even if you didn’t buy them off the retail rack. Just because you could shove another layered and laden hanger onto your already congested closet rod doesn’t mean that you should!

All said, this doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself from time to time (as you should, you handsome devil). But it’s important to practice moderation and maximize the options already in your inventory so your closet space doesn’t turn into the subject of some horrible TLC show (you know which one). For recommendations on how to turn your closet space into a minimalist

Alright, time to give credit where credit is due: whoever came up with the name “Goodwill” deserves a gold star. How can a place with a name like that be anything other than perfectly philanthropic?

Goodwill has caught a lot of vicious publicity for false claims – like that the CEO has a multimillion dollar salary and spends his time spitting on orphans (okay, maybe scratch that last part). Regardless, the nonprofit is certainly not without imperfections: thousands of disabled workers at Goodwill are paid under a dollar an hour because the company capitalizes on a federal legal loophole. Doesn’t quite live up to the name, does it? Even further, the popularity of big chain stores like Goodwill often takes from the margins of locally owned secondhand businesses.

Armed with these guidelines, enjoy turning one man’s junk into another man’s treasure, with a mind at ease knowing that you’re making a positive difference all the while!

Here’s the bottom line. It’s not the end of the world if if you want to dip your toes into the Goodwill pool. Nobody’s going to crucify you if you hit up Starbucks instead of your local brewers, either, but we all know by now that the bigger the company, the less control you have over where your money ends up. In all honesty, your time will likely be better spent perusing some of the mom-andpop secondhand apparel stores right here in Goleta.

Consider following @uncommonthrifts on Instagram: they aim to educate budding fashionistas on conscious consumption and environmental sustainability. If you want to get a little weirder, @thriftstoreart pairs uncanny thrifted finds with personal insults (trust me on this one).

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