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Growing up, I used to lose myself in hours of thrift haul and thrift flip videos on YouTube. I followed numerous accounts on Instagram showing off secondhand outfits. When I first learned to drive, I visited the local thrift store on a weekly basis.

At the start of my secondhand shopping journey, a big appeal was the cheaper prices compared to buying new clothing. As a teen with limited financial resources, being able to buy a three-dollar cute dress from the thrift store was the peak of achievement. I’m not sure exactly when, but I made a mental shift from shopping secondhand for the cost deals to shopping for environmental reasons. Now that I have a decent amount of disposable income, I still choose to shop for preloved items.

The fashion industry has a detrimental effect on the planet and its resources. Much of the environmental benefits of buying secondhand is associated with reducing the need for producing new clothes. Buying clothing secondhand helps to reduce the demand for new fashion items and gives a longer life to existing ones.

Not all secondhand shopping options are rated equally. There are options that are cheaper than others, options with higher quality clothing, and options that are easier to access. Below is a list of the places I currently get my secondhand clothing, ranked by how often I use it to acquire new-to-me items (number one being the most frequented).

1. Thredup
2. Thrift Store
3. REI Members Only Garage Sales
4. Plato’s Closet
5. Garage sales
6. My mom’s closet

1. Thredup

Thredup is an online consignment and thrift store for women and children, and it’s the secondhand clothing option I use the most. In Thredup’s business model, individuals can ship the company clothes they no longer want, and Thredup will select from that pile the clothes they will later resell in their store (shipping back or donating unselected clothing).

Pros:

• They are selective with the clothes they choose to sell, so I oftentimes can find higher quality items in better conditions compared to the thrift store
• You can set filters for your clothing sizes and preferences (colors, styles, cuts, etc.)
• You can set easy to access search favorites for specific types of clothing (shirts, boots, dresses, etc.) or clothing brands
• They are detailed in their clothing descriptions down to fabric materials and measurements
• Lots of options at your fingertips (from your web browser or phone app)
• They ship their items in 100% recycled plastic packaging, and the packaging can also be reused for returns

Cons:

• They do not have a male clothing section
• You cannot try on the clothes before buying (and I’ve had to return many items before for both sizing and in-person fit concerns)
• There is still the environmental element of shipping and packaging (associated with buying anything online) compared to a local thrift store
• Items are oftentimes more expensive than what you get from a local thrift store

2. Thrift Store

Local thrift stores get their inventory from local donations. It’s a great option for both clothes and other household options! Some of my favorite clothing items I’ve found at the thrift store.

Pros:

• Oftentimes you can try on the clothes before purchasing them
• You can acquire the items immediately because you avoid the need for online shipping
• Cheaper than many online secondhand clothing options
• Because of the cheaper prices, it’s also a great option for finding items to alter (i.e. thrift flipping, upcycling, etc.)
• Has a male selection in addition to women and children

Cons:

• Not as selective in what clothing they take in (and so a lot more variance in styles, quality, and condition)
• Large variety of sizes and styles (and so takes a while to physically have to sift through the clothing racks)
• The store and the items can be disorganized
• Oftentimes the stores don’t accept returns

3. REI Member’s Only Garage Sale

REI (Recreational Equipment Inc) is a retail and outdoor recreation services corporation. The company is organized as a consumer’s co-operative, meaning customers can become members of the co-op (meaning they have partial ownership of the company). One of the perks of membership is having access to a “garage sale” where REI sells returned and used items for cheaper prices. The REI in my town is near a climbing gym that I frequent, and so it is easy for my to pop in regularly to see what is available. I’ve found great items from gently used hiking shoes to a high quality outdoors coat (with a small stain on the elbow).

Pros:

• Discounted prices compared to items bought new
• A great place for outdoorsy brands and clothing styles (including climbing shoes and other more specific sports items)
• Though REI accepts returns of almost any condition and time length, most clothing items are barely worn/ in good condition

Cons:

• Prices, though discounted, can still be pricey compared to local thrift stores or other secondhand options
• Sometimes these returned items are damaged (stains, tears, etc.), but they are oftentimes minor problems
• Amount of items depends on the specific store. My local store has a much smaller selection compared to some of the bigger stores I’ve visited (usually in towns where there is more of an outdoorsy culture)

4. Plato’s Closet

Plato’s Closet is a physical consignment and thrift store with a similar business model to Thredup. People bring clothes they no longer want to the store, and Plato’s Closet will select from that pile the clothes they will later resell in their store (returning unwanted items back to the people who brought them in). This option is great for a younger crowd, but I have seen similar store options for older groups.

Pros:

• Selective in the clothes they sell, tends to have trendier options catered to the younger generation
• Can try on the clothes ahead of time
• Can return clothing within a week of purchase
• Can acquire the items immediately because you avoid the need for online shipping
• Has a male selection in addition to a women’s section
• Oftentimes well organized selections (separated by size, style, and color)

Cons:

• No kids selections
• Can be pricier than thrift stores
• Younger trendier items, so oftentimes not as many timeless pieces or options for older crowds

5. Garage/ Yard Sales

I love garage sales, and especially community yard sales (where the whole neighborhood participates and you can hit up more sales in less time). I haven’t been able to find many clothing specific items from garage sales, especially because I had to find a sale with similar clothing styles and sizes as mine.

Pros:

• Can be cheaper than online consignment options (but can sometimes be more expensive), and
• You have the option to bargain the price
• Going to different sales can be a fun weekend activity

Cons:

• Very hit or miss when it comes to finding a house with your desired styles and specific sizes
• They aren’t a regular/permanent business, so you have to wait for them to happen
• You can never really know what to expect when you show up (kinds of clothing, if there is clothing at all, how organized it is, prices, etc.)

6. My Mom’s Closet

My mom has definitely had more time and money to acquire different clothing items. I am also fortunate that my mom will oftentimes loan or even give me most of her clothing item if I wanted them. She lives near me, and so it’s easy for my to pop on buy for a look in the closet. One of my more recent successes with this secondhand clothing option was last-minute finding a belt that matched a 70’s inspired look I was wearing.

Pros:

• Free
• We are the same sizes in shirts and pants, so there are many options there
• Great, especially for timeless staple items

Cons:

• My mom does not have the same size shoes as me, so unfortunately we can’t share those
• We oftentimes don’t share the same tastes in clothes

I love shopping secondhand for the treasure hunting aspect! Shopping secondhand for fashion is oftentimes cheaper than buying new, and it gives a longer life to existing items. It’s a great environmental alternative to shopping for new wardrobe items.