Whether through thrifting in person at thrift stores and curated vintage storefronts or buying clothes secondhand on platforms like Depop and Poshmark, thrifting is now considered one of the main sources of clothes shopping for Gen Z. Sustainability as well as ethically sourcing and buying clothes is now one of the main driving factors behind clothing purchases in the new era of fashion. These reasons now have caused for slow fashion, such as buying seconhand and thrifting, to be a mainstay for younger generation shoppers.
College students, especially, use the art of the thrift to procure clothes more affordably than shopping through most regular retailers. From shopping for business and career expos, wanting to have a new game day outfit, or just trying to revamp your current wardrobe, thrifting has shown itself to be a viable and ethical way to work towards finding your next best fit.
Kai Dawson, a fourth-year animal science scholar at FAMU, discusses why she thrifts.
“I thrift because it’s sustainable. Thrifting satisfies a lot of my wants as far as buying cheap, not supporting fast fashion, giving back to my community, and broadening my fashion palette.”
These reasons, among others, is why there are a plethora of college students, even noticeably in Tallahassee, interacting and even continuing the process of slow and cyclical fashion. From student owned thrift hubs like Gar*Bage and Famuly Vintage to locally owned vintage stores like Tallahasasse Vintage and The Other Side Vintage, Tallahassee has various options for students to thrift from different community members to their peers.
Zula Olivera, a fourth-year political science student at FAMU, shares how the Tallahassee thrift and vintage scene looks for students.
“It’s a field with hidden gems. The average shopper knows there are thrift stores out there, but you have to look for the right place to find the pieces you want”.
Mentioning the search to find the pieces you want is the main thrill of thrifting. Going from store to store looking for something specific and leaving the store with items you would’ve never thought you wanted. Tallahassee and its plethora of thrift and vintage options allow students to search and dig to find gems that most might not have even considered wearing or purchasing.
With the continued rise of thrifting in the fashion world, while most could move through the world with fast fashion, take a second to slow down and find something in a thrift store.