"I grew up thrifting. I'll never forget the thrill of digging up the navy-blue plush hoodie of my dreams at one of the countless flea markets I visited with my mom as a kid. But today, I'm on a smaller mission for a basic black t-shirt because I'm over the ones I have. Since I found that hoodie, secondhand has had a serious glow up."
"Small, chaotic charity shops like Goodwill or Oxfam have given way to minimalistic vintage boutiques where a used shirt can cost more than a new one. And it's big business. In 2024, the global secondhand apparel market was worth $227 billion (194 billion) as much as Apple's yearly sales, according to retail analyst Neil Saunders. Younger Gen Z and millennial consumers are driving the thrifting craze for a few reasons."
"And it's no wonder. Fashion is a dirty industry, responsible for up to 10% of human-made greenhouse gas emissions not to mention massive water use and freshwater pollution. Then there's overproduction. The rapid turnover of cheap fashion means a truckload of clothing is sent to landfill or incinerated every second. And some garments never even see the inside of a shop, with studies suggesting 10 to 30% of clothing is never actually sold. Most of that is treated as trash."
Secondhand garments now outnumber new items in many wardrobes two-to-one. Thrifting has shifted from chaotic charity shops to curated vintage boutiques, transforming used clothing into a major retail sector valued at $227 billion in 2024. Younger Gen Z and millennial consumers drive demand by treating thrifting as a creative activity and a sustainability choice. The fashion industry remains highly polluting, responsible for up to 10% of human-made greenhouse gas emissions, heavy water use, and freshwater pollution, coupled with overproduction that sends enormous volumes of clothing to landfill or incineration. Resale offers potential to reduce waste and cut CO2, but realizing those benefits requires careful, responsible thrifting practices.
Read at www.dw.com
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