Thrift is officially a mainstream movement in the US

And Wednesday’s National Thrift Shop Day draws new (and longtime) fans to the fashion world for its history of frugality, trendiness and relevance. Whether it’s the inspiration behind a new fashion design show called “Upcycle Nation” this fall, or the revival of the brand name and his Y2K fashion, frugality has a lot to do with American shoppers. is bringing

What is National Thrift Shop Day?

The majority of Americans have purchased second-hand goods in their lifetime. And today, from bricks-and-mortar recycling mainstays like Goodwill, municipal waste programs like his DonateNYC in New York City (with 30 thrift stores participating), to online resellers like ThredUp, everyone is using the National It promotes the Thrift Shop Day message. According to the National Association of Reseller Professionals (NARTS), the number of physical thrift stores has reached 25,000 in the United States, contributing to a multi-billion dollar resale industry estimated to reach $77 billion by 2025. increase.

The narrative is increasingly dominated by online resale, but early American frugality is rooted not only in industrialization but also in World War I rationing and pricing. However, it wasn’t until Earth Day in 1970 that National Thrift Shop Day marked a formal celebration. Initially intended to raise financial support for local thrift stores and their charitable causes, it has since expanded into broader promotions and environmental calls to action to reduce waste and buy more used goods. and developed.

What Designers Say About Thrift

According to a recent report from web-based styling platform StyleSeat, more than half (54%) of Americans are more willing to challenge past trends thanks to the ease of using vintage clothing. Surveyed with over 1,000 US consumers, trends include everything from Y2K fashion, sportswear, sporty sunglasses, mum jeans, cargo, tie-dye, matching sets and more.

For this reason, designers are still betting on second-hand goods for the future.

Fashion designer Jérôme Lamarre told WWD, “There are lots of landfills full of bottles, blankets, clothes, bags and furniture with tags still attached, so technology is everywhere. We really need to talk about upcycling,” he said. “We live in an era where things are born rapidly, worn once and thrown away. We need a sensible solution.”

LaMaar is a judge on Fuse’s new show Upcycle Nation, which airs in November 2022, alongside upcycling innovator Peder Cho and “Claws” actress Karrueche Tran. We hope to inspire collaborative and stylish solutions to waste.

A longtime thrifty man, Lamar said, “Very often, when I wear something thrifty mixed with my high fashion, it becomes a trend later on,” likening it to a kind of gift or curse. “The only reason thrift is hot is because the level of craftsmanship isn’t at that level in the current fashion landscape.” I try to buy things that feel magical to my taste, like jewelry or cool eyewear.”

Why Labels Lead, Crossroads in Consumption

Not surprisingly, the search for brands and designers drives frugal shopping behavior.

Branded apparel such as J. Crew, Lululemon, Nike and Levi’s are consistently driving searches and sales, according to a data-driven online reseller platform. But a recent report from Recurate put him second only to mid-price brands in terms of demand for fast-fashion brands. A closer look at ThredUp’s data shows that Shein’s inventory alone has grown by a staggering 186% from 2020 to 2021.

“We were surprised to see fast fashion so high on the respondents’ priority list for this report, but how would the results change if vintage was factored into the equation?” says advocacy nonprofit education and Emily Stockl, Director of Community Engagement, commented. Remake, and host of the “Pre-Loved Podcast.”

Looking back at the thrift ecosystem, today’s thriftists seem to lament the quality and uniqueness of clothing from a bygone era compared to today’s mass-produced, low-quality clothing. argues that the label makes it easier for newbies to join the second-hand conversation, regardless of price or quality.

“We often recommend this, especially to mid- to plus-size second-hand shoppers, as a great option to focus on specific pieces available in your size from brands you already recognize. “Plus, it’s an easy way for fast-fashion patrons to slowly transition their purchases from second-hand to second-hand.”

Still, she’s wary of overdosing. “As second-hand shopping becomes more popular, I think consumer education for second-hand shoppers needs to focus on shopping less altogether. There is no pasting.”