Secondhand as a Sustainable Solution

Dangers: Thrifting as the New Fast Fashion

The growing secondhand industry can help divert clothing from landfill and address our waste crisis. However, we must be aware of the dangers of consuming secondhand at the same rate of consumption of new products that has occurred in recent years. That only perpetuates the rapid, cheap consumption mindset that fast fashion introduced. Data also suggests that just because secondhand purchases are increasing, they aren't replacing shopping new. This means that people are buying more secondhand and still buying just as much new. In order to truly move forward and reap the benefits of the trending secondhand market, we must slow down consumption as a whole and utilize secondhand as a way to replace new purchases, thus reducing demand for new production.

Thrift hauls, overconsumption