Shopping can still be sustainable even when there are no thrift stores nearby. Borrowing clothes and hand-me-downs never fail, but online thrifting makes fashion more accessible. Social media has made this even easier with a growing amount of websites dedicated to second-hand clothing. Not only is online thrifting more useful for being sustainable when resources are not directly available, like on sight thrift stores, but it makes hunting for specific items much easier.
Another perk of thrifting in general is the rare, luxurious finds that cost nothing near their original price. Items like these are becoming easier to find with the option to buy secondhand clothing online through apps and websites. These sites offer an eclectic collection of clothing that make even mundane items stand out in an outfit.
Here are a few online thrifting staples for your next haul.
1. Depop
If you haven’t already heard of Depop, I’m sure you have seen someone wearing something from there. Depop is a fashion marketplace that aims to make thrifting online easy and inclusive. It emphasizes finding your personal style and understanding fashion from a creator’s perspective. Buying from Depop is more of an experience than a simple transaction. You can learn more about your style by coming across pieces you never knew you’d like. Depop combines community and marketplace to cultivate an online thrifting experience that sticks to the original sustainability of old-fashioned thrifting.
2. Poshmark
Another popular option, Poshmark is an online thrifting platform that passes along secondhand clothing, home decor, and beauty accessories. This app provides a diverse range of options for each search of a specific item. The options seem almost limitless. Although it may seem difficult to pinpoint a certain kind of item on this app due to the high concentration of products, the search engine helps you pin down the exact style you’re seeking.
3. Goodfair
This website is passionate about the fight against fast fashion and its presence in the fashion industry. The structure of the website is unique for a thrift website, because instead of having users list their clothing, the website is designed almost identically to a traditional retail site. The website sells its own collections, advertises bundles, and lists sales of all pre-owned clothing. “Conscious Consumerism” are the first words you see on their About Page, because the website is made to bring awareness to the numbers behind the damages done by the fashion industry, in an attempt to reconstruct it.
4. Grailed
The holy grail of thrifting. This app sells used menswear items, but they’re all really gender-neutral, and anyone can wear them. Grailed is independently different from the classic thrift store model. Similarly to the structure of Depop and Poshmark, Grailed lists items sold by users that upload them to the site. However, this website focuses more on luxury and vintage thrifting. You can pick from a variety of designers for clothing and accessories. Rare finds at affordable prices on this website make this online thrifting experience all the more rewarding.
The fashion industry has had its severe downfalls. Thrifting is a simple and easy way that the industry can change for the better. As online thrifting gains its presence, the shopping experience becomes more popular and impactful.
Featured Photo by Girl with red hat on Unsplash
