To Err is Human, To Thrift is Divine

So you’re at a thrift store. It smells, and the people here look mean, but you’re here because people on TikTok made it seem fun, and you want in. One girl got a giant pencil, another girl got a designer bag, and you even saw someone come in and find a battery-operated butterfly. I mean, that’s cool. I get it. Someone like you would totally love to have something unique like that.

You knew about thrifting for a long time, but you have never done it before for some strange reason. Seeing it on TikTok shows there is always something there, and there was also that one time when your aunt’s best friend’s cousin bought a bust from the thrift store and found out later, it was part of a Roman statue. I mean, that’s pretty amazing. There are so many treasures waiting to be picked up. 

If everyone could do it, why can’t you?

But now you’re here, and it’s less impressive than you thought. It smells like pee, you’re not allowed to use the changing rooms, and someone is muttering to themselves, looking at you. Also, the treasures are not abundant. Actually, nothing is cute. There are used underwear and broken pieces of junk. There are a bunch of Shein items, and the rest have holes in them. Some of these items actually look familiar.

Did your mom donate your clothes? 

But despite all that confusion, should you go thrifting? Yes. The answer to that is always yes. 

Because of the pandemic, we started to have a rise in fast fashion. With nothing to do, people began buying clothes in bulk, and with places like Shein and Fashion Nova, people could purchase quantities for cheap. However, people didn’t want to keep these items, mainly because they were cheap, so all those things just went straight to thrift stores. Making a product, whether it is clothes or items, requires CO2. So whatever you buy new is causing significant damage to our environment. The truth is buying things new is significantly damaging to the environment, so thrifting is a way to navigate that.

So you’re walking around knowing all of this. Knowing that thrifting allows you to help the environment, but it’s also unbelievably tricky. It makes you wonder,

Is this the same place all those people found that stuff?

Yes and no. Yes, in not the sense that you would like, and no, in a sense, you know all too well.

But let’s start with the no. The word thrifting has been used very loosely in social media. Sometimes people will go on eBay, others will go to antique markets, and sometimes people bring an item to a thrift store and pretend they found it there. All three of those moments aren’t actual thrifting. However, they like to pretend it is. That can be deceptive. 

Now, the yes. Some people do get stuff from that thrift store. Some of those are experienced thrifters who have been thrifting for a long time. They spend their time and energy going from thrift store to thrift store and hunker down to find the best stuff. People want to thrift for that one-of-a-kind look because capitalism is burying us alive, selling us useless things, and influencer culture is better than someone that looks one of a kind. Also, conventional shopping is dull.

But how do you navigate all those items? Because thrift stores need help keeping stable with the number of things they get. Goodwill alone gets so much stuff that it can only hold onto those items for about a week, then they are discarded off to third-world countries where, more likely or not, it ends in a landfill. So how do you grab the right items without overwhelming yourself with the garbage that people think others would want?

Here are some steps:

1. Going to a thrift store requires consistency. You have to go to a thrift store a lot because most times you will go to a thrift store, you will see absolute junk. However, sometimes you won’t. Sometimes you will see something that catches your eye. Sometimes you’ll see something that will ignite excitement within you. Sometimes you’ll see something that represents you.
   • Some people love to be the first to enter the store. Me? I just go when I want, no need to stress. I will generally find something that catches my eye.
     1. I also have always believed that it would happen if it was meant to happen. Ask for goodness, and the universe will provide.
2. Thrifting requires patience. Take your time. Don’t be afraid to dig. Thrift stores are generally crowded and big or crowded and small, but most importantly, crowded. Crowded not necessarily by people but by things. It’s hard to sort through all of that stuff. But don’t get discouraged. Know that time will equal reward. Sort through all those sweaters, pull out all of those vases to see what’s in the back, turn over every painting, and you will be rewarded.
   • I had spent a good hour at one thrift store only to find a whiskey mirror deep underneath some frames. It’s large and impressive, and I wouldn’t have found it if I wasn’t ready to dig
3. Be respectful. This is a place for people that don’t have a lot of money. This might be you in the future. Don’t be disrespectful at a thrift store. Be kind to others. Put things neatly back. Follow the rules. Only take what you need. Just because it’s a thrift store doesn’t mean you must use it as a dump site. Also, if people see you as kind and respectful, they’ll do the same. We like to follow others, and creating a lovely place means you’ll continue to be an excellent place for you in the future. 
4. Know that intention will get you nothing. Don’t go to a thrift store wanting shorts because you won’t get shorts. Go to a thrift store open to whatever comes your way. It might be shorts, or it might be vintage glasses you can use for propagation. Be open. Something unique just might come your way.
   • Carry with you a list of dream things you will want. Maybe the thrift gods will bless you.

For those wanting an identity separate from current trends, thrifting is a great choice. With thrifting, you are genuinely buying for what you think looks good other than what others tell you to look good. You’re also generally buying something entirely original because those items can’t be found elsewhere. While solving a need, you’re also helping the environment, which eventually, in the end, benefits you. Even though the experience can be daunting at first, following these 4 tips allow you to have a wonderful experience.