NATIONAL SECONDHAND WARDROBE DAY

On National Secondhand Wardrobe Day, it is all about breaking the stigma surrounding second-hand clothes and making the choice to shift to sustainable fashion. Reducing, reusing, and recycling clothing is encouraged so that an example is set for newer generations to follow. Local thrift stores have their prices slashed even further so more people are tempted to buy from them.

Thrift and secondhand hauls are posted online on social media sites like Instagram. Outfits of the Day feature secondhand items and recommendations for online thrift stores are given. As a further incentive for buyers, many campaigns highlighting the exploitation of labor by the fast fashion industry are posted online, as well as the dangers of fast fashion to our natural resources.

National Secondhand Wardrobe Day is celebrated on August 25.

We are not advocating wearing tattered clothes or items that are clearly unhygienic, but buying secondhand clothes from reputable sources has so many great benefits that we can’t imagine why it gets frowned upon!

The first and most obvious benefit is the savings; you get articles for a fraction of the price of retail. The clothes are in great condition, and if you take your time, you can find vintage designer clothes or even licensed merchandise. You will also find that, as compared to fast fashion, the quality and longevity of secondhand clothing are mostly better.

The next and most important reason for buying secondhand is to conserve the Earth’s resources, decrease pollution, and have a more sustainable lifestyle. Tons of clothing is discarded and dumped in landfills, which is such a tragic waste! Destroying the environment and wasting your hard-earned money on new clothing just because a certain article is no longer trendy is horribly wasteful.

Before the Industrial Revolution, clothing was expensive, limited, and not as easily disposable. Following the Industrial Revolution, mass production of clothing led to mass consumerism. Soon, people began buying clothes often and tossing old ones out. And the stigma attached to secondhand clothing — that it is a sign of lack of money — began rearing its head.

This changed when Christian ministries started drives to collect clothing and accessories to resell to fund their programs. Thrift stores started to pop up, benefiting and giving an incentive to those who were providing charity services. Today, Gen Zs and Millennials are active in promoting sustainable fashion and reducing waste. 77% of Millennials prefer purchasing clothing that is environmentally friendly.

How many times have you bought an item of clothing, only to wear it once or twice and throw it away after years of collecting dust in the back of the closet? Sadly, the answer is too many times.

Thankfully, there’s a movement taking place in America that could help save us from our wasteful selves: National Secondhand Wardrobe Day on August 25. Buying clothes second hand and donating your used clothing creates a positive cycle that is crucial for cutting back our waste.

Unfortunately, there’s a stigma surrounding secondhand clothing stores, or thrift shops, but it’s time to bring this to light and talk about why it’s so flawed. Secondhand shopping saves you money, has a positive impact on the environment, and if done correctly, can certainly lead to a closet of some cool new duds.

So on August 25, head to your favorite thrift store and get some new (old) threads!