Will Seippel | April 10, 2025

There’s always something interesting happening in the vintage collector community. Hearing stories from “the wild” about the thrifting scene helps me stay on top of the latest trends. Connecting community with thrifting makes it even more engaging. Plus, I like hearing about what others in this hobby that I love are doing. I’m always eager to learn about new shops and events that encourage networking and connect people who share my passion for hunting vintage treasures.

People shop at thrift stores for many reasons. Some are there for the collectibles, perhaps hoping to score some of their favorite china, a vintage lamp, or a piece of furniture. Others need to find affordable prices for household goods or clothing. Connecting community with thrifting offers such opportunities.

Sustainability is a big part of thrifting as well. Millennials and Gen Z like to go thrifting because it keeps older goods out of landfills and reduces the demand for “fast fashion,” i.e., clothing made quickly and cheaply. These pieces usually don’t last very long; customers buy a blouse or jacket online, and they might wear it once or twice, get tired of it, and discard it. Connecting the community with thrifting helps tackle this issue. Globally, we generate about 92 million tons of textile waste every year, with clothing accounting for about 7% of the total waste contained in landfills all over the planet.

Fortunately, there are those in the thrifting community who are raising awareness about the issue. Students at California State Long Beach have formed a “Thrift Club” that is not only a creative outlet and helps students stay on budget but also provides a way to reach out and educate their local community about sustainability and textile waste.

However, healing the planet isn’t the only reason thrifting is popular now. Fashion trends change constantly, but clothing and styles from the 1980s are having a resurgence, and 80s fans are flocking to thrift stores for that perfect pair of acid-washed jeans or Members Only jackets. With prices rising and global tariffs looming on some imports, connecting community with thrifting makes it easier to save money since thrifted clothing is not subject to tariffs and is usually cheaper than buying new. Save the planet, save some money, and be on trend all at the same time? What’s better than that?