Vintage, Thrifting & Why They're The Better Option Than Consumerism
Use and throw. More clothes, more accessories, more validation. This is the consumerist mindset.
And full disclosure? I also believed in opulence through overconsumption, fulfillment through materialism, but it only lasts so long… Fortunately for me, I discovered a better way to consume, be fashionable and truly feel good about it. I wore my 4-year-old Vans one day, took a turn about the city market and, girl, did I find treasuresss - both old and new.
How did Meg Cabot phrase it? Ah, yes, “sometimes what you truly want is right in front of you” - and perhaps from 20 years back as well!
In today's gossip sheet, I'll emphasise the benefit, convenience, and impact of vintage and thrift shopping.
Did you know that only the manufacturing process of mass produced items accounts for about 25% of greenhouse gas emissions?
Photo: Pinterest
Mass Produced vs. Uniquely Curated
Let's face it - mass-produced items not only cause more pollution, but they also neglect body diversity and proportions! You could go to Zara, get a size M that's actually a size S and vice versa. You'd leave the shop thinking you've gained a couple of pounds… You wouldn't even know that it was simply a manufacturing error. That is the consumerist market. It provides a scarce variety of sizes for different body types, with many simply purchasing what “almost fits,” causing discomfort from either tight or loosely fit clothing.
In contrast, the thrift market includes many different unique styles - from chic to queer - that also contain vintage pieces. It's not always easy to find the right fit while thrifting - especially if you're a beginner, sigh - but it’s very worth learning! Over time, it allows you to not only be able to curate your personal style, but to do so in quality and ecologically, as you'd be contributing to the circular economy.
Vintage shopping!!
Photo: Pinterest
The Throwaway Mindset vs. Thrift Culture
Vintage is any quality item from at least 20 years back (100+ year items are considered antique), whereas thrifting, or thrift shopping, is the purchasing of used clothing items that usually cost about 70% less than a brand new item.
Many tend to find thrifting deplorable; a taboo of sorts. “Why would I wear used clothes?” “What if I get a disease passed down by the previous owner through the fabric?” “What's the point if I can get it brand new?”
Oh, I'll tell you the point, Karen: less consumption = less waste = less pollution = less greenhouse gas emissions = better economic conditions (and, yes, I mean on a universal basis!) What people don't realise or fail to understand is the attachments they create with brand-new, purchased items over time that slowly turn into an obsession. The need for new clothes, shoes, bags, just because. Shopping every other week because it's now a habitual thing, despite not really needing any of the items bought. Some call it shopaholicism, others call it the Compulsive Buying Disorder; I prefer the term Throwaway Mindset. The Throwaway Mindset is distinguished for its disposability, which inevitably leads to overconsumption. You consume, consume and consume some more. That's it. Waste is not acknowledged, and neither is the manufacturing process. The main focus is on the in-between, with convenience taking top priority, and many products being set to fail after short use. This is detrimental not just to the environment, but to us humans as well. It programs our brains to value the fleeting nature of material possessions over long-term fulfillment - quantity over quality. It's all too different from the Thrift Culture. This whimsical tradition facilitates the circular approach that would decrease the fashion industry's notable part in waste and emissions, amongst others, in addition to gradually enabling a more harmonious state of mind in a person.
Waste Reduction & Resource Conservation
As mentioned, the mass production and overconsumption of items in the fashion industry hurt the environment, as well as they hurt us. The fashion industry has had its difficulties with managing resources like water and cotton over the years. Along with its increasing contribution to global warming, the industry is in dire need of solutions that will benefit the planet - solutions that can only work effectively depending on the choices we make today. Thrift shopping (and buying vintage) is a way of assisting the economy. How do I mean? Well, say you are in a pickle and urgently need an outfit for Halloween… why settle for some sleazy fast fashion brand when you can shop through the local market, Vinted or Depop? These are spaces that prevent consumerism by reselling items to extend their lifespan, reducing the rate at which new items are purchased (and sold) and rethinking the impact of these items when they're discarded after initial use vs. when they're reused.
Making the most of what's already in your wardrobe is a great way to take some pressure off the planet 🌿
Photo: Bradarie/Pinterest
Takeaway
This year, the search term “vintage” has increased by 6.7% via Google Trends, despite being relatively well-known already.
However, the search terms “vintage outfits” and “thrifting” have experienced a decrease on Pinterest - one of the most popular platforms for fashion trends, inspiration and outfit purchases. Though slightly dropping in the summer, it remains fairly relevant in the searches and in reach. This indicates that though vintage and thrift shopping are already quite known, the majority still choose to purchase from fast fashion brands and adopt the consumerist mindset (though most do so subconsciously), which inevitably disrupts our circular economy on a global scale!
I'll leave you pookies with this one question:
Do you want to be part of a future that is filled with as much “pretty fabric and glitter” as landfills, or do you want to time-travel your wardrobe into one that's known for its long-lasting, yet noteworthy apparel… whilst saving the planet ;)
Let me know your answer in the comments.
Until next time ♡
XOXO, The Fashion Stock Market
Cover Photo: Pinterest
Editor: Felicity Field
