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Thrifting clothes is a phenomenon that has burst into mainstream media in recent years. Our generation is one that appears to care about environmental sustainability more so than older generations, and the rise of thrifting is a direct example of this. However, fast fashion was growing in popularity before thrifting ever hit the mainstream. Fast fashion increases the speed at which the fashion cycle moves and creates more competition for brands to come out with the newest clothes while fitting the latest trends as fast as they can, for as cheap as possible. This goes hand-in-hand with greater levels of landfill waste and increasing consumer expectations of how fast new trends come out. Thrifting can help combat this. Following the mindset of ‘what’s one’s trash is another’s treasure,’ one can reduce textile waste produced over the course of their lives by purchasing pre-owned clothing.
An issue with thrifting can be finding sizes that fit. Unless the store buys bulk overstock from larger fashion companies, a piece found at a thrift store commonly only comes in one size. If anything, this is something that could turn people away from thrifting, but I believe this can be changed. I would say over 75% of my closet is thrifted, but the clothes I have usually did not initially fit. I have purchased pants that fit my dad who is about 150 pounds heavier and 8 inches taller than me. They are now my favorite jeans. How does that happen? At-home adjustments are the answer!
Sewing is said to be a dying art form and a skill that one only needed before the development of large scale fashion brands. I hold the belief that sewing is not dead and can in fact be a largely useful skill.
Sewing can be an intimidating process to start initially, but once you understand the fundamentals of sewing techniques and body measurements, it can be life changing. At-home adjustments open an entirely new range of clothes accessible to you in stores, especially in thrift shops when there’s only one size of an item. Rather than putting those perfect pants back on the rack because they’re too long, hemming them at home can save you money and time, all while helping expand your wardrobe. Simple alterations such as hemming, cropping, and adding darts can help fit the clothes to a person’s figure in ways that were previously impossible due to the cut of the clothes.
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Not only can the fit of thrifted clothes be improved, but personalization and details can be added to transform lackluster clothes into personal pieces of art to wear. The possibilities of adding details are endless. One could cut texture holes into a shirt, embroider the pocket of jeans, or add patches to holes for added pattern. Implementing a personal touch to your clothes can also help refine your wardrobe to fit your own personal aesthetic. This process is commonly called upcycling. Taking something old and making it new for your own purposes combats fast fashion and can overall help the flow of your closet.
Upcycling and at-home adjustments are another way to help people save money by fixing their old clothes rather than buying new ones. This also brings forward a unique creative outlet for those who have an artistic side, but are not necessarily interested in traditional drawing mediums. Upcycling can start small, like by adding sharpie details to jeans or patches; however, it is something you can learn more about and improve over time.
As college students, having access to sewing machines is not always realistic. Even so, hand sewing can greatly help begin the process of upcycling. With the right patience, needles and thread, clothes found at thrift stores can do a complete 360 in a matter of days. There are other alternatives that do not require a sewing machine, such as cropping or adding texture details. Crafts stores commonly offer iron-on hemming tape, patches, and details that you can add to clothing to give it a new life.
Thrifting is an inexpensive way to expand your wardrobe, and upcycling can add a personal touch to each thrift find. Developing a skill such as sewing can push forward a new era of creativity and personalization in your wardrobe. As a generation so heavily focused on sustainability, this is a direct opportunity to slow the force of fast fashion, and these efforts should not be overlooked. Taking advantage of upcycling and small sewing adjustments has done wonders for my self expression and I hope you too begin your journey into the world of upcycling.