By Jolie Plucinski
Photo from Nextdoor (White Dove Thrift Shop in Mesa)
Shopping is an activity that brings joy to many people across the world. Sometimes, it’s for a specific item to complete the final touches of an outfit or a vast haul to begin the new season. But shopping sustainably isn’t an easy task with fast fashion sites continuing to take over online spheres. The answer to continuing shopping, while saving treasures from landfills, is simply to shop secondhand. Here are five ways to get your start in shopping sustainably!
Thrifting
It is much more rewarding to search through a sea of clothing and find a unique piece that only a few people can get, at a cheap price. For vintage clothing and trendy pieces, you can visit corporate stores like Goodwill or Savers. The Goodwill Bins offers a fun experience of sorting through non-organized donations for a flat rate per pound. If you need a more curated selection for young adults, Plato’s Closet is the place to go. Some small business thrift stores are equally impressive, and usually, some proceeds support a non-profit organization.
Online Thrifting
If you are more interested in looking for a particular item, there are numerous secondhand apps you can search from. Vinted, eBay, Depop, and Mecari are apps where people can sell just about any type of clothing. You can negotiate the price or message the seller if you have questions. ShopGoodwill is an app version of the physical Goodwill store where they auction items daily, allowing you to shop from every Goodwill around the country. If you are looking for an app that doesn’t require shipping, Facebook Marketplace is the place to shop locally.
Garage and Estate Sales
Every weekend, there are garage sales where people sell new and vintage clothes at the lowest price. You can also bargain with the sellers and get an even better deal since they usually want to get rid of these items as quickly as possible. Yard Sale Treasure Map is an excellent app for tracking all the spots you want to go to. It typically has pictures of the items being sold, so you can prepare beforehand.
Another fascinating site is EstateSales.net, which also has an app of the same name, where you can get photos beforehand and plan all the places you want to head to. Estate sales are usually more pricey or upscale, but the finds are more one-of-a-kind and vintage.
Vintage Markets
If you are looking for an entire event with over thirty vendors and an array of vintage clothing, accessories and home decor, Phoenix Vintage Market is the place for you! They have an Instagram account that hosts a monthly gathering to shop and sell vintage and timeless pieces. USM on Instagram is another great event for ASU students since it has a vintage market on each campus every month. If you want to find more, go to a search engine and look up Arizona vintage fests or markets near you.
Swap Meets and Flea Markets
The Phoenix Park ‘n Swap is an excellent permanent place to support genuine small businesses that keep their prices low even with brand-new items. It also has food vendors for classic fair treats or local favorites. It’s open on Sunday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. You can find anything there, and most are at a bargain price. It also has food vendors for classic fair treats or local favorites.
The Mesa Market Place Swap Meet has 1,500+ vendors and you can find treasures for hours. It has free parking and admission, so you don't lose money even if you don’t see any great finds. It is open from Friday to Sunday from 7:30 AM to 4 PM. They also have live music and diverse food, so you can relax after shopping until you drop.
It may seem complicated to shop sustainably compared to quickly going to a mall filled with fast fashion. With just a bit more mindfulness, you can use these options to curate a new and unique outlet for your closet. If you want to save the planet while not breaking the bank, these five options can improve your shopping experience.
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