What are the Thrift shops?
Thrift shops are stores that buy and then resell used-vintage clothes either from people who no longer need them or from stores-manufacturers that are no longer in operation and have stock in their warehouses.
Is it a new trend?
No. While vintage choices may have been fashionable in recent years, the roots of clothing reuse can be traced back many years, where used clothes were passed down from generation to generation.
In the early 19th century, the trade in used clothing flourished during the Industrial Revolution due to the increasing population in urban centers. A notable place for purchasing used clothing was in the Houndsditch area of London, where traders would go door-to-door asking for clothes in order to resell them.
What can you find in a thrift shop?
There's a wide variety of clothing in such stores, from shirts and pants to formal attire (such as jackets and blazers). The products are available in various sizes and for all ages and genders. Additionally, besides clothing items, you can find accessories like bags, belts, etc. However, the most important thing is that each product found in a thrift shop is unique.
Environmental footprint:
Fashion is a huge industry that, however, burdens the environment every year. According to analyses by Business Insider, the fashion industry is responsible for
- A significant portion of water pollution
- 10% of global CO2 emissions
- While a large percentage, around 85%, of fabrics end up in landfills.
By purchasing clothes from a thrift shop, we help promote the planet's sustainability. Clothing reuse means less extraction of new resources and less energy use to create new ones.
Ο Greek Eco Project Greek Eco Project supports secondhand clothing stores. We have already organized the "Upcycle It" action in collaboration with the secondhand clothing store "Cirkel" in Kalamaria.
So, consider the next time you throw away a piece of clothing or decide to buy from fast fashion stores.
Writer: Stathis Pavlidis
