Thrifting for teens: How secondhand shopping became a trend

Ella Chase, Staff Writer

September 4, 2025

Shopper at Father and Sons Thrift, downtown Raleigh, picking out new outfits.

Racks of mismatched outfits, bins of clothes, shoes and hats fill the small store as eager customers dig through them, hoping to find that perfect vintage t-shirt or thrifted watch for only $2.99. Every item in that store has a story, and for some shoppers, it’s not only those cheap prices that entice them, but it’s the thrill of finding something unique to show off at school or work the next day. Thrifting was once a practical way of shopping to save money and help the environment; however, the concept of thrifting has recently turned into a major cultural trend among teens and young adults… Why is this?

For starters, social media has been a platform that allowed thrifting to really take off. “My thrift haul,” “Look what I found at the thrift store today!,” “VINTAGE JEANS FOR 4 DOLLARS !!” are only some of the videos you’ll see constantly when swiping through TikTok or scrolling on Instagram. Not only do people swipe through these videos, but they also collaborate and leave tips on them, ideas are traded online and they inspire other shoppers to begin the thrifting treasure hunt too.

Viewers see people online finding crazy deals at thrift stores and are then inspired to go out and thrift hoping to find similar things and ultimately leading more and more shoppers to second-hand clothing stores. Because of this social media buzz, online thrifting has also become increasingly popular in recent years. Apps like Depop or Poshmark are getting more attention because of the idea that you can get these cheap, vintage items from the comfort of your own home via a screen.

Clothing racks at the “TrunkShow” second-hand clothing store.

Beyond social media, it’s that uniqueness, creativity and affordability that truly appeals to shoppers. Why spend 50 dollars on a purse if you can find one for $4 if you look hard enough at a thrift store? Why buy an outfit that every other person likely already has when you can create one out of thrifted clothes that mainstream stores don’t offer? The shift in the perception of thrifting has been huge – it was once seen as cheap and “uncool”, but now as trendy and desirable.

One more appeal we see in the thrifting trend, and a major convincer for some shoppers, is the environmental aspect. Over 11 million tons of clothing are thrown away in the United States yearly. Thrifting is one of the many solutions that communities use to combat this problem. Buying second-hand clothes reduces textile waste and cuts down on landfill pollution. Instead of contributing to environmental harm, citizens can do their part in attempting to cut down on it by purchasing clothes that have already been manufactured.

Thrifting is an all-around great shopping habit and deserves all the attention it has been recently receiving. Who wouldn’t want to save money, help the environment and find a unique new way to express yourself through clothing? So next time you are buying your new hoodie, pair of pants, or hat, think to yourself, “could I find this at a thrift store?”… the answer is always yes… so get thrifting!

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About the Contributor

Ella Chase, Staff Writer

Ella Chase is a senior at Green Hope High School, and this is her first year writing for the GH Falcon. She’s most interested in learning the ins and outs of journalism and reporting, favoring broadcast journalism as a possible career pathway. Writing allows Ella the freedom of painting a picture with words – creating work that not only flows but also structures her point. Having others understand her point, not only through the words in particular but also in how they’re written, is something she finds captivating. Ella is involved in her school in many ways, as the senior class president and vice president of DECA. She is a full-time member of the Green Hope soccer team and, on weekends, coaches a U7 Miracle League team, working with those with special needs. Despite her busy schedule, you can find her enjoying hiking and thrifting. Her best academic work comes from English-based classes. In her early years, hockey played a huge role in Ella’s life. While living in Boston the first ten years of her life, she enjoyed not only coaching but playing her favorite sport. Ella values the time that she once put into this sport and still plays when visiting her hometown. She now turns her skill and attention to the GH Falcon and is excited to contribute this year.