Thrifting dates back to the early nineteenth century, beginning with the Industrial Revolution. Before the Revolution, clothing was repurposed until it was unusable. When the Revolution hit, mass production became a thing. From the overproduction of clothes, they became more affordable, so people stopped repurposing their clothes. Thrifting started as a charitable way to refurbish clothing but has lost meaning with time.
Thrift store prices have been rapidly increasing throughout the years. The most significant bump was seen after the Coronavirus pandemic had ended. The number of people going to thrift stores increased by 11% once the pandemic ended, as well as a 40% increase in second-hand clothing that was purchased. With the increase in popularity, a demand has been created for thrift store items. With the high demand for thrifting, stores have started being pickier with what they choose to sell. So only items that are considered luxury will get sold while others will get thrown out. This ensures a greater profit for the stores since every item is donated. The demand comes mostly from resellers and social media. Studies show that ⅓ of the amount of clothing sold in 2023 was from resellers. Resellers will go to thrift stores and buy a huge amount of items, just to turn around and list them for double the amount. So, with the massive influx of resellers, thrift stores are desperate to keep their items trendy. Since they’re only displaying popular items, they increase prices to be able to afford employees.
Social media platforms like TikTok will show videos with what is called thrift hauls. This gets the idea of thrift shopping out there. Following the herd mentality, people want to do what others do, so they go thrift shopping too. However, what’s not shown on social media is the reselling aspect. These people who do giant hauls turn around and sell the items for a larger price based on value. The value is determined by condition, demand, and rarity. So if an item is older and still in good condition, it can be sold at a higher dollar.
The price increases deflect from the purpose of thrift stores. Thrift stores were created to ensure clothing gets good use out of it and to prevent over-consumption. As well as to offer the lower class the opportunity to have something nice for a low cost. Thrift stores have always been cost-effective, eco-positive, and they promote sustainability. With the constant uprise in demand, prices, and reselling, thrift stores will continue to be popular but will get less and less affordable. According to studies done by Capital One, the second-hand apparel rate will be up by 12% annually. People believe thrift stores are more accessible now than in the past; however, prices are less reasonable now than they currently have been.
In their desperation to stay relevant, thrift stores have lost their touch. According to research from Capital One, the majority of clothing will be bought from resellers rather than thrift stores. People think it’s cleaner to get their second-hand apparel from one person rather than a thrift store. The reality is that resellers get their items from thrift stores.
