Thrifting clothing has become more and more popular recently. Not only is thrifting fun and inexpensive there are many environmental benefits to thrifting. 

Every article of clothing that is sent to a thrift store is one less piece of clothing in a landfill. Also, the production of lots of modern clothes are made from oil based fabrics. Since oil is a fossil fuel, it is limited and not great for the environment because it won’t break down the same in a landfill as a 100 percent cotton shirt. 

In order to save their wallets a lot of people buy their clothes from on-the-rise “fast fashion” websites. Online stores like Shein, Romwe and Wish sell low-quality clothes for minimal pricing with most shirts under $10 that are name brand look-alikes. 

Though your bank account will be happy with these purchases, the environment is not. Since this clothing is low quality, it is often worn just a few times and thrown out. This adds to the mounds of trash put into landfills daily. 

Also, to keep costs low, many chemicals are used to make these clothes and that all seeps into the earth when they are thrown out. The polyester in these clothes leaks out into our waterways every time they are washed because of the low quality of the clothes.

 Not only is fast fashion bad for the environment but it is morally wrong. Fast fashion supplier factories, mostly based in Asia, have faced exploitation and mistreatment charges that include abuse, poor work conditions, low wages and forced overtime of workers. 

By thrifting your clothes instead of buying fast-fashion you can save your wallet with low prices and save the environment from having more waste in the ground and chemicals in the water. You can also feel good about the clothes you purchase knowing they are of good quality and made with fair trade practices.