THRIFTED FITS

i’d rather be

thrifting!

a photo essay by

Isabel Lemus Kristensen

Is thrifting on the rise? It seems like everyone I see or talk to these days has at least one thrifted item in their closet, sometimes everything they own is secondhand. According to thredUP’s 2020 Annual Resale Report, 70% of women have or are open to shopping secondhand and Gen Z is “adopting secondhand fashion faster than any other age group.” The secondhand market is also expected to grow five times over in the next five years. So what’s up with this surge in resale? According to thredUP, “buying one used item reduces its carbon, waste and water footprints by 82%.” A single garment requires 77 gallons of water to make! All of the young secondhand shoppers I photographed for this series said the same thing: it’s a way to be sustainable and be unique at the same time.

susannah turley

Susannah Turley, who is from Eugene, Oregon, wears thrifted items from Goodwill, Poshmark, Depop, St. Vinnies and Flipside Apparel Exchange. “I’ve been thrift shopping with my grandma my entire life and we go together all the time,” she says. “Even when I am not shopping with her I am still thinking about whether or not she’d like what I am picking out, and I keep her tips and tricks in mind for finding things that will last me for years.”

Maia De La Torre-Mackin, who is from Portland, Oregon, wears thrifted items from Goodwill and independent thrift stores in Portland. “I personally like thrifting because I like the sense of uniqueness,” she says. “With thrifting you can find materials that you don’t see as often. It’s easier to personalize your taste, and you’re not contributing to fast fashion.” She says she most enjoys shopping at St. Vincent de Paul in Eugene, Oregon.

maia de la torre-mackin

fran harrison

Fran Harrison, who is from Sunnyvale, California, wears a thrifted sweater from Buffalo Exchange. “I like the more sustainable option when you thrift, especially if you are thrifting within your own town,” Harrison says. “But I also feel like thrift shops have more unique and durable options.”