It's true what they say "one person's trash is another's treasure". But there's so, so much more to it than that. Did you know that 1 in 2 people in the United States simply throws their used clothing away? Textile waste is the second largest source of waste in America. Here are just a few cool things that you contribute to every time you purchase or re-use pre-owned clothing.
You save a ton of money
First, lets talk monetary gratification. You save that hard earned cheddar! You can find many thrifted items in excellent pre-owned condition or even sometimes still new with tags. You'd be surprised what gets tossed out during spring cleaning. Most resellers, brick and mortar storefronts or charitable thrift stores discount your favorite brands and styles by over 50%.You extend the life of a garment
Buying a thrifted find is like adopting a new article of clothing and giving it another chance. In 2018 alone, Americans threw away 11.3 million tons of textile blend waste. That number grows in volume each year. Go green. Give your thrifted find a good wash, a quick sweater shave or sew a new button on if you need to. It's one less thing that reaches landfill this year.You reuse resources too
It's not just clothing getting wasted. Did you now that it takes 1,320 gallons of water to produce one pound of cotton and another 713 gallons of water to make one cotton t-shirt? If that much goes into clothes, why not make it last a little longer?You snub fast-fashion practices
That's right, let your inner, angsty-teen out and fight big fashion! The fashion industry has you in it's hold, man! Stop overspending and overconsuming. Share and donate your used clothing within your family, circle of friends and co-workers. Hunt for your next favorite piece within your local community.
Circular fashion rotates great clothes at great prices, often for a good cause. Support each other, a worthy cause or a small business, rather than a giant, overproducing retail manufacturer. Go ahead and thrift! It's a win-win.
K. Holman, 2023
