Thrifting used to be a cheap and sustainable way of maintaining one’s individuality through fashion, but has now become a way for resellers to make a profit.

By Randall Lopez

Thrift culture has been a rising phenomenon for fashion enthusiasts for the past few years, especially with the great pieces you can find for affordable prices. Thrift stores, vintage shops and flea markets have been the go-to spots for consumers.

Unfortunately, resellers have begun to take advantage of the high demand of second-hand clothing, and have been increasing the prices of vintage clothing for consumers.

The concept of thrifting has drastically changed over the last couple of years. Consumers were able to gain a unique fashion sense in searching for unwanted items and repurposing them for an outfit like pieces to a puzzle. Consumers found pride in recycling clothes and giving light to different fashion styles.

Stores like Goodwill Outlets used to be overlooked and ignored, but now are looked at like a treasure hunt for hidden pieces. Thrift stores are getting the most business than ever before with people eager to participate in thrift culture. Goodwill being the most popular saw its peak in 2022 with a revenue of $6.1 billion dollars.

The embrace of second-hand fashion is definitely a step in the right direction for sustainability. Sadly, resellers have stormed these businesses in search of anything that seems trendy in the market. People line up daily to scour items for hours and resell what they can find with over a 50% markup. Goodwill Outlets charge by the pound which is why most resellers turn there to make an easy profit.

Budget-conscious consumers turn to thrifting as an opportunity to save money on fashion pieces. They are now being met with higher price tags and less options for these kinds of pieces because of resellers. Sustainable fashion should not be an option for only those who can afford the high markups.

As far as finding a solution for this recent rise in prices goes, it is getting harder to find a balance in the market between consumers and sellers. People are giving in to the prices they are met with and pay the fees resellers give. The industry is adapting and it is getting harder to make fashion accessible for everyone.

Online resell platforms such as Depop, Poshmark and Grailed have seen a huge increase in numbers with buyers and especially sellers. These platforms are used to sell second-hand items such as vintage finds, trendy clothing and even designer pieces. These items could be found at thrift stores at a reasonable price before, but are now being sold with an extreme markup on reselling-based platforms.

As long as items get left behind, they sit on racks until eventually ending up in landfills. This does not mean that they were not good items as fashion is subjective. Thrifting is abundant and you can still go out and find something you might like!

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