WOODBURY — Thrifting is best defined as an intent to shop for secondhand items at a discounted price. Shopping at thrift stores has become increasingly more popular in recent years. Thrift stores include a variety of items like furniture, clothing, shoes, and even baby toys. Younger people find it fun, almost like a game. It’s a hunt and you never know what unique items you could find.

Expanding Industries

The increasing hunt for second hand items has now expanded into a $28 billion industry. While there are thrift stores you could go to in person, many online stores are also expanding. Brands such as Thread Up and Depop are soaring more than ever. Fashion marketplaces allow people to buy and sell clothes and other items remotely.

“I love thrifting and I think it is a sustainable way to shop,” said Sophia Dmitriyeva, a Nonnewaug junior. “However, I dislike when people resell items they find at thrifts for three times the price because that ends up harming the community of people who actually do need to thrift as a necessity.”

Environmentally safe

One of the many advantages of thrifting is that it keeps clothes out of landfills. Now more than ever, people are getting rid of all their clothes and tend to throw them away. This can lead to clothes piling up on landfills for hundreds of years.

“I think thrifting puts a stop to consumption of bigger brands that are harmful to companies,” said Emily Crawford, junior. “When people thrift, it is environmentally safe. It also allows people to express their fashion without spending big money.”

Creating your own style

Most consumers look for vintage clothing while they shop, hoping to build a one of a kind wardrobe. Since fashion is always repeating, designers often try to mimic different looks from past decades. When shopping at thrift stores, it is possible to find clothing that was made in previous eras that are now coming back into style.