Thrift shopping is the new “cool,” hobby for teenagers to take part in. With reference to social media influencer and fashion icon, Emma Chamberlain, she has popularized shopping at second hand stores. 

Many teens have tried to go thrift shopping, yet purchase pieces that last only a couple wears or come out empty handed. These two issues stem from buying low quality items, purchasing micro-trends, and not knowing how or where to find the finest items. 

Due to the constant demand to supply new and trendy clothes, long lasting materials are what the fast fashion industry lacks. Most fast fashion companies like Shein, Urban Outfitters, H&M, and

Zara make most of their clothing out of synthetic fibers. Most synthetic fibers that the fast fashion industry uses, creates itchy and easily torn tops and bottoms.

When looking for clothing materials, it is important to seek out real leather in jackets and shoes, true denim for jeans, and animal as well as plant fibers. Purchasing high quality clothing made with comfortable and sturdy material will ensure multiple wears that will last for up to 10 or even 20 years. Thrift stores tend to carry older items, which were manufactured before fast fashion boomed, therefore it is more likely to find high quality items while shopping second hand.

While many teenagers shop at thrift stores to keep up with the latest micro-trends, this is often a mistake since micro-trends flow in and out in a matter of weeks. Printed flare pants are an example of a micro-trend that boomed, but quickly subsided. Teens waste massive amounts of money to buy clothing items that stay in trend for a month, but will quickly be known as “basic.”

It is important to stick to staple closet items that will help build up a wardrobe as well as purchasing timeless pieces that will never go out of style. A contrast to the printed flare pants would be true non-distressed Levi jeans in the 500’s series, which have been around since the 1970’s. Other examples of timeless pieces to invest in would be a leather jacket, a denim jacket, solid color button ups, and neutral sneakers.

There are numerous places to shop second hand, however the best locations include Goodwill’s, the Goodwill Bins, and flea markets. These three locations should preferably be in generally wealthy areas, considering that people with higher income tend to donate better quality and high end brands. However, second hand stores in generally standard areas will still provide unique pieces.

Many teens find thrift shopping to be boring and worthless since it is difficult to find articles of clothing that appeal to one’s personal style. The best way to find clothes that one likes is to start off in a designated rack section and look through every article of clothing, from two sizes down of one’s original size to two sizes up. It is also important to look in the sections one would likely not be interested in, and even the opposite genders section.

Thrift shopping is not only a rewarding hobby, but it is also an environmentally friendly and a cost effective alternative to consuming fast fashion. There is great importance to invest in comfortable items that will not go out of style and will last for years to come. Regardless of the various fashion opinions out there, it is fundamental to embrace one’s individual fashion approach.