DAYS: Did you know there’s a National Thrift Shop Day?
It’s Aug. 17, by the way. The day is for supporting local thrift shops and the often charitable organizations they fund.
According to the website National Today, during the 18th century, many new ways of using old clothing items were created. Of course there were hand-me-downs, as children with older siblings know. When the items were of no use as clothing anymore, they were used as furniture stuffing. People often sold the items if they needed money, but it wasn’t until the mid 1800s to early 1900s when the modern idea of thrifting came around.
Organizations such as Goodwill and The Salvation Army came along. Sadly, so did a social stigma.
While for a long time, used clothing was considered to denote a lower social status, the rise in environmentalism turned the minds of folks toward making less of an impact on earth. Buying used clothing was seen as living greener.
It keeps clothes out of landfills. Most clothing is made out of synthetic material that won’t degrade. Over 400 gallons of water are used to produce one t-shirt. Resources are used in every stage of production. Recycling that piece of clothing preserves precious resources.
It saves money, too. Of course that isn’t always the case, but as with anything, it pays to be a smart shopper.
A thrift shop or two is a good way to find a unique piece for that back-to-school wardrobe — a vintage tee, an unusual hoodie or a name brand item at a fraction of the cost.
