Thrift stores have grown to become a popular way to shop. It has even expanded online. There are now businesses that sell secondhand items online. Thrift World is one of those businesses. 

Whether it is at a thrift near me or an online thrift shop, thrifting helps consumers save money, reuse clothes and save the environment. If you have not joined the thrifting community, here are four facts that might change your mind. 

THRIFT STORES BEGAN TO GROW IN POPULARITY IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY. 

Back in the day, there was a stigma buying and selling used clothing. This stigma began to be tossed out when Christian ministries started to use thrift stores as a way to fund their programs. 

However, it was not until the 1920s that thrift stores started to look like the ones we have today. The demand for secondhand increased during the Great Depression. During this time, many people could not afford to buy new items. These hard times caused them to seek more secondhand items.

GEN Z AND MILLENNIALS DO THE MOST THRIFTING. 

If there is one thing that Gen Z and Millennials love more than their phones is thrifting. Both of these generations are driving the growth of secondhand clothing. ThredUp reports that Millenials and Gen Z are adopting shopping for secondhand clothing 2.5 times faster than other generations. 

The demand for secondhand clothing has only increased throughout the years. From 2017 to 2019, secondhand sales increased by 37 percent in Millennials and 46 percent in Gen Z. These two generations are more likely to buy secondhand because they want to shop more sustainably and ethically. 

THRIFT STORES HELP REDUCE TEXTILE WASTE. 

Textile waste is a growing problem around the world. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports found that 17 million tons of textile waste end up in landfills. This is a problem because textile takes up to 200 or more years to decompose in landfills. 

One way that textile waste is being reduced is through the help of thrift stores. These kinds of stores collect clothing and resell it. Items that cannot be sold get recycled. This process helps reduce the amount of textile waste that ends up in landfills. 

THRIFTING HELPS SAVE WATER AND REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS. 

Water is important for all living things, but it is limited. The fashion industry is the second industry that consumes the most water. Reports state that it consumes an average of 79 billion cubic meters of water per year. Not to mention, the fashion industry produces about 10 percent of carbon emissions. 

Water consumption and carbon emissions can be reduced through thrifting. Shopping at a thrift near me reduces the demand for new clothing. Thrift stores give people the opportunity to recycle and reuse clothes. 

Are you looking for thrift near me?

Visit Thrift World! We have locations in Omaha, Council Bluffs and Independence, Missouri. If you do not live near these cities, no worries. We also have an online store that has a wide selection of vintage and collectible items. Find a store near you here.