Throughout my summer and beginning of fall, my Tiktok “For You Page” has been full of thrift hauls that showcase the amazing finds from Goodwill and other second hand clothing stores. As my Tiktok continued to produce these videos, I came across girls finding expensive brands like Louis Vuitton, Lululemon, and Ralph Lauren all at extremely low prices while also in almost brand new conditions. At this point, I was hooked on these videos. I constantly scrolled through hauls where girls filled huge bags with clothes totaling to maybe $20. I had to try it.
While visiting Nantucket this summer, my friends and I came across a tiny thrift store. Nantucket, known for its insane prices and designer stores, was not providing me with a lot of options for enhancing my summer wardrobe until we came across this thrift store. As I made my way through the doors, I saw rows of clothes all for under $10. My friends and I dug through boxes and racks, each of us walking to the register with an arm full of clothes. I spent under $15 dollars shopping in that Nantucket thrift store and left with two knitted sweaters, a blue pinstripe blouse, and a pink t-shirt.
As the summer progressed, I kept searching for thrift stores and Goodwills. I visited my first Goodwill toward the end of the summer and bought an athletic top, white skirt, and a black and white blouse, only spending $5.
Everyone is guilty of buying a new piece of clothing, only wearing it once, and eventually disposing of it. I have absolutely been a part of this cycle, but thrifting has shown me how easy it is to enjoy recycled clothes. Aside from the undeniable environmental benefits, there is a certain excitement I found when searching through used clothes and coming across something unique. My experience with thrifting over the last couple months has led me to wonder why people don’t give thrifting a chance when searching for a new piece of clothing.