Photography by Kristine Kearns.
Hey, wanna go thrift shopping? A popular activity chosen by many has been growing in appraisal over the years for its environmental benefits. Thrift shops have become more and more “trendy” thanks to social media and environmental movements. Years ago, thrifting would be commonly associated with lower-income areas sourcing their textiles and goods but because of its sustainable management, middle-class consumers are using thrifting as a way to go green while staying fashionable.
First and foremost, the most sustainable way to keep a closet clean and eco-friendly is to attempt to hold on to everything for as long as possible. This stops clothes from entering landfills, going to waste and shuns the need for more consumption. Thrifting helps to reduce pollution and overall shrinks our carbon footprints. As opposed to fast fashion, a form of clothing production that typically uses unsustainable and unethical manufacturing practices, thrifting is considered “slow fashion” because it is less resource intensive. Thrifting used clothing usually only requires a weekly load of laundry on an individual level, rather than the large amounts of water required to make new clothing in the first place. Think about keeping a closed loop; someone is opting out of the supply and demand chain each time one borrows a friend’s sweater instead of buying new. This concept is the basic way thrifting helps the earth heal by keeping textiles out of landfills.
There is so much to find for the right price, one just has to look. Online stores and resell apps like Poshmark, ThredUp, Depop, Facebook Marketplace and more websites alike have tons of options for any occasion or object one may need. Most of the time, there is more than just clothing; accessories, furniture and more can be found second-hand, as well.
Before the weather began to turn cold, I made sure to check out thrift stores in West Chester that are a pretty walkable distance from campus. I have been able to check out three stores on my own and one with a group. I was pleasantly pleased with the few spots I found, especially with the knowledge that there are more shops to find in town that I made note of for another day.
Walking down North Church Street, I found the Woman’s Exchange to be an adorable surprise for all sorts of knick knacks. I went in search of something to move my window sill plant into, but instead I gravitated towards some inquisitive pieces of art. The consignment shop has been a part of West Chester for over 70 years. They started right after World War II and went on to join the Woman’s Exchange Federation and now resell goods of value. A percentage of their profits are donated toward charity. I walked in and gazed at beautiful displays of old paintings, glassware, and was surprised to venture to a basement where there was more being sold. I walked through aisles or random thrift store items and even found an eclectic butterfly knick-knack made of pebbles.
As shown, more than just clothing can be found secondhand. The Second Reading Bookstore found on the same street as the Woman’s Exchange is a prime example of books needing to be reused and brought into new homes. I passed through the small store with clever little labels and organized categories. People from the community are invited to donate their old books: up to two boxes or bags per person. All of their proceeds benefit the West Chester Area Senior Center and they have a second location on High street as well. It’s beneficial to keep books alive within the community, and though my thoughts on books may be biased, it is still an environmental appeal to see books being recycled and passed down to new hands sustainably.
Even though thrifting can be extremely beneficial, sometimes the cost outweighs the interest. Malena’s Vintage Boutique on West Gay Street represents an area of thrifting known as “vintage” shopping. There are multiple vintage and antique shops within West Chester that are almost as charming as Malena’s. On one of my first Saturdays walking through town, I wandered into the store spotting its sales. They have racks and racks of unique, high quality dresses that completely enamored me. Seeing the pieces preserved for so long is a breath of fresh air. It’s also a sort of fashion wake up call by knowing that creativity reflected in style does not have to be sacrificed in order to go green; in fact, it’s quite the opposite.
What I really look forward to most is the typical thrift store racks of old clothing from all sizes and places. Recently, I asked a couple friends to explore a new thrift shop in town with me and we had a unique and unforgettable day. Westminster Thrift Shop located on East Gay Street has the perfect mix of anything secondhand. They have circular racks of clothing and take donations as well. I found a decorative wooden box and two sweaters for the cold seasons; from my view, this thrift shop is the place to go before finding anything anywhere else.
Particularly with weather changes and lingering weekend boredom, thrifting can be brought into the slew of communal and collegiate activities. In place of fast fashion practices or a hastiness to toss clothing, hand picking secondhand items with care and contentment can go long ways for the environment, our closets and our relationships with the community around us.