In the past year, microtrends and coveted aesthetics have become more niche and short-lived, from the resurgence of indie-sleaze with Charli XCX’s “Brat” summer to baggy jeans and backwards basketball jerseys. Shoppers are disoriented and nothing stays in style.
One factor that has accelerated the change in fashion trends has been the rise of fast fashion.
While fast fashion already moves at a quick pace, it encourages buying and wearing cheap clothes from brands such as Shein, Fashion Nova, and TikTok shop and discarding them after only a few wears. These brands have taken the fast fashion business model and increased it almost tenfold.
Social media has contributed to overconsumption in recent years. The rise of shopping hauls and try-on videos with trending hashtags on social media has led to increased shopping sprees as trends change quickly.
Often, influencers and young fashion enthusiasts purchase items in bulk from fast fashion brands only to resell them at a much higher price on Depop, Grailed, OfferUp and other fashion resale platforms. These websites are booming with individuals on a mission to sell overstocked products, items that are ‘new with tags’ or items that have only been worn once or twice, as consumers move on to this week’s trendy item.
Despite social media’s detrimental impact on the fashion industry, it has also encouraged sustainability and ethical practices in fashion. While there is an increasing number of fast fashion influencers, the sustainable fashion community has also grown.
Thrifting has risen to new heights due to social media and people’s need to shop sustainably. While it may be appealing to conform to fast fashion, many who thrift have found a unique identity with their clothing instead of conforming to short-lived trends with fast fashion.
The biggest reason why people go thrift shopping now is to find a “hidden gem,” something so unique that isn’t sold elsewhere. Whether this be an old t-shirt or a bold jacket, the thrift store has something for everyone.
Many people go to thrift stores not only to purchase items, but also to give away clothes that they no longer need or wear. With the newer trends of Y2K and clothes from the ‘90s and 2000s, clothes from those eras are plentiful in thrift stores.
Thrifting has found this new life because it is a great way to prevent more waste and to create a sustainable way to reuse clothes. In a world where trash and plastic waste is rising, it is increasingly paramount to make choices that support the environment.
