Striking gold: teens talk love of thrifting

Thrifting is an expanding art form—an economically and environmentally friendly way to shop that is also fun. Social media played a large role in the popularization of thrifting among people of all generations, especially teens. Teens thrift as a fun activity on weekends, while searching for functional, necessary clothing. I surveyed ARHS students about thrifting, and aimed to answer one question in particular: what are the best local thrift spots and why?

What makes a thrift store ‘good’?

Student responses to a poll asking about their favorite local thrift spots showed a drastic variety in opinions. This is partially due to what people value and consider a “good” thrift store. Is it affordability, quality, selection, or something else that determines a thrift store’s worth? 

Some look for affordable prices, a large, not-too-curated selection, and a wide variety of clothes. Their top picks for spots like this were Goodwill in Amherst and Salvation Army in Hadley. 

Senior Aria Haupt likes these specific places because “they’re big [and have] many items” and “they have a constant intake of new clothing which isn’t sourced, it’s donated.” She also mentioned Salvation Army and Goodwill, noting they have “cheap, high-quality items, with lots of variety,” which she likes. 

Juniors Coral Pope and Eden Hahn also voted Goodwill in Amherst as their top pick. “I like Goodwill because it is small and cozy,” said Pope. 

The lack of curation and organization, which could appear to be a drawback of Goodwill, Pope views as a plus: “It is not as nicely organized and big as Salvation Army [which] deters people from going there and therefore keeps the valuable items from being purchased before I arrive,” she said. 

Senior Zachary Schmidt thinks “a thrift store isn’t necessarily defined by its contents, but rather the fluctuation in new clothes and opportunities to find a gem,” noting that is best provided at places like Salvation Army and yet another larger store in Springfield: Savers.

On the other hand, some seek a place with a more curated rack. Luna Wiess, a senior at ARHS, considers a “good thrift store [as] a place where they have fewer things because every item is intentional,” she said. Her favorite local spot is The Closet, an intimate, much more curated and fashion-forward small business thrift store that recently relocated to downtown Amherst from the Mill District in North Amherst.

Hitting gold: students’ favorite thrifted items 

Everyone who thrifts knows the feeling of finding an item that is just so good that the thrift gods must have been in your favor that day.

One question on the form sent out to ARHS students asked about the favorite item that they have thrifted, or the pieces that made them feel they had struck gold.

Nicco Selman’s “gold” was an old Turkish fur jacket he found, while Hattie Holabird found a purple Patagonia fleece, as well as a homecoming dress she wore last year.

Haupt found a pair of shoes from Germany and Carhartt jeans. Pope and Weiss both said their favorite items were Levi’s jeans or shorts.

Maggie Reilly-Hogan’s favorite piece was a black and white, long, patterned skirt with a white waistband. Raquel Mazur found a purse that she later discovered was sold for $3,000 retail. Schmidt’s favorite thrifted item was a pair of jeans he thrifted a while back, and that continue to be a favorite. Hahn also found a pair of green pants she loves.

A surge in online thrift sites 

Many of the respondents said the majority of the clothes in their closet are thrifted or secondhand.

In the past few years, this has become even more of the case, as thrifting has risen in popularity in the U.S. 

Students, now more than ever, seek originality in their clothes and feel like they can find unique pieces that are also affordable at thrift stores.

One thing they noted is that they don’t have to actually physically hunt for them in person! The rise in popularity of thrifting has also led to a surge in online thrift shopping sites like Depop, Poshmark, and ThredUp. 

Respondents to the form noted if they use any secondhand clothing sites, and many said their favorite site at the moment is Depop, due to its large selection and the ability to search through for specific items in a way that isn’t possible with in-person thrift stores.

But students also touted Thredup, Grailed, and eBay. 

If you’ve never thrifted, give it a try. You’ll be surprised at not just the bargains, but the style.