Reasons to Thrift
As a broke college student and advocate for environmental protection I have always thrifted my clothing. Not only does it keep waste out of landfills, but it also allows you to have a unique wardrobe. The fast fashion industry is exploitative and recreates massive amounts of waste every year.
Popular clothing sites like SHEIN that charge less than five dollars for a shirt are obvious examples of fast fashion. It is physically and ethically impossible to design, manufacture, and distribute a piece of clothing for under $5. With trend cycles in clothing coming and going quickly, SHEIN clothes are already starting to be found at second hand stores.
You can still be trendy and buy second hand. In fact, it’s often easier to find the clothing at second hand stores that you can customize to fit your style. Thrift shopping is also great when looking for outfits for a special occasion. I bought all of my dresses for high school dances as well as business clothing at thrift stores.
This dress and purse were purchased at goodwill and the cape I got at a garage sale 
This dress was purchased for senior wine and cheese night at goodwill
Places to Thrift in DSM
- Goodwill
- Treasure Chest Thrift Store LLC
- The Salvation Army
- Many Hands Thrift Market
- Sixth Ave Thrift
- Renew Resale Shop
- Encore Thrift
- Plato’s Closet
- The Copper Dog
- Garage/Yard Sales
Customizing Your Clothes
Although sometimes you can find the perfect piece clothing as is, at the thrift store, sometimes it takes a little alteration or the right accessories. Now, i’m no Tim Gunn. In fact, I can barely sew, therefore most alterations I make to thrift clothing is pretty simple.
This thrift shirt I cropped was paired with a long black skirt that was thrifted as well. I accessorized it with a tote bag, my docs, some matching black jewelry and a scarf I turned into a head band.
I’ve found that the easiest way to make a piece of clothing right for you is to cut it and pair it with the right accessories. My favorite way to accessorize is to add a turtle neck (thrifted of course) and a bunch of rings and necklaces. If you begin to think outside the box you can create a unique wardrobe that doesn’t break your bank or contribute to environmental destruction. Happy thrifting!
