By Corey Bennett
Thrifting has been a part of many people’s lives for years. But why should you go thrifting instead of just buying new clothes from retail stores?
Thrifting promotes sustainability by giving pre-loved clothes a new life while also aligning with the principles of reusing, reducing, and reusing. So participating in the act of thrifting actually has a pretty positive impact on the planet, though it’s small.
On top of being environmentally friendly, it allows students to express their creativity and individuality through their outfits. Thrift stores tend to offer a wide range of clothes ranging from shoes to jackets from any style or era. Which nowadays is cool because many retail stores don’t have many opportunities for self-expression like thrift stores do. Thrifting clothes allows students to find clothes that reflect their personality and creativity, fostering a culture of acceptance and empowering students to embrace themselves and be okay standing out from the crowd.
Not only that, but thrifting also provides many advantages to students due to most of them not having a job. Prices for thrifting are way lower than they are at retail stores. For example, a pair of pants at a retail store is like $40–$60, while thrifting pants will only cost you $10–$20. Thrift stores allow students to obtain lots of clothing at affordable prices, and who knows, you might even find some high-end clothing that was donated that you can now get at a good price. This makes fashion a lot more inclusive and attainable for students, not only promoting students to be financially responsible but also causing them to make decisions that can save them money in the long run.
Benicia actually has a couple of thrift stores that students can go to, like Pocket Monkey Vintage, Elisa’s Cottage, Goodwill, etc. Many students believe that thrift stores actually have a lot better clothing, with one Benicia High student even saying that “retail clothes are kind of ugly.”
In the end, thrifting is just better than buying from retail stores in every way. The joy and happiness that you have when you stumble upon a unique piece of clothing is amazing and something that can’t be found at retail stores. It encourages students to develop their style in a sustainable and affordable way in comparison to old retail shopping, making them more conscious of their fashion choices while being themselves.
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