What is the appeal of thrifting? Why has it become so popular?
These sorts of questions have not been so uncommon during recent times with the sudden uptake of thrifting. Within the last few years, the popularity of thrifting has increased rapidly, with thrift stores becoming common hangout spots for teenagers and adults alike. Some people have even made businesses out of second-hand selling and begun coordinating thrift-related events and festivals. One example of this is OKMarketplace, which I attended to ask some of the event’s booth organizers and attendees about these questions.
OKMarketplace is a pop-up event that has been in San Francisco since 2022. They host events where different small businesses in the fashion industry, like independent artists and designers, resellers, and creators of all sorts of jewelry, trinkets, and more, come together and sell their finds and creations. One of these events is a pop-up shop in Japantown, which takes place once a month and fills the venue with racks of unique, stylish clothing and accessories for all fashion tastes.
So once again, what is the appeal of thrifting? When asked, Steen from Hellaweenandtingz, an independent jewelry business from the Bay Area, replied that, “Finding and sourcing unique things that belonged to someone before has more emotional value than buying things new.” Filling a wardrobe with passed down pieces carries more feelings and history, making the act of thrifting a more memorable experience.
Alternatively, Gabby, the creator of RainboVintage, an ecclectic vintage business based in Davis and SF, said that the appeal of thrifting includes, “Unique pieces, unique styles, and being able to repurpose items,” suggesting that it is easier to build one’s “aesthetic” or personal fashion through thrifting than it is through shopping at retail and department stores. Similarly, many customers and other frequent thrifters commended thrift shopping for its “cheap and affordable prices, rare and vintage finds, and trendiness.”
Additionally, with the trend of thrift-shopping comes the trend of thrift-selling. Many people, especially young adults and teenagers, have found ways to make business and profit out of selling and reselling their clothes. Some buy from thrift shops and retail stores to resell online, and some will track down specific pieces of clothing or apparel to sell to clients who are interested. When interviewing some of the booth vendors at OKMarketplace, they were also asked about their businesses and their reason for starting them. Interestingly enough, many of them answered with a similar cause: The COVID-19 pandemic. Steen was originally in human resources and started her business during the pandemic as a hobby, but later turned it into her main source of income. Comparably, Gabby who was laid off due to COVID, got into thrifting and selling clothes during the pandemic, and also turned it into a primary career. These are just two examples of how people were able to turn their hobbies into employment; especially after all the hardships with work that arose during the pandemic.
In conclusion, while thrifting has existed since the 19th century, many can credit its recent spike in vogue-ness, meaning current relevancy, to the pandemic for the businesses it led to the creation of, as well as the influence of fads in today’s society. That, along with the inexpensive prices, fascinating finds, curios of clothing, and its ability to become an enjoyable and memorable venture, are what constitute to the appeal of thrifting.
