The clothing industry is one of the biggest polluters in the world and has also become one of the industries with the highest number of human rights abuses. With clothing becoming increasingly synthetic and overproduced while simultaneously mistreating workers, the fashion industry has gained a sinister connotation in recent years. The growing demand for low-cost and trendy clothing has resulted in brands choosing to underpay foreign workers and outsource their labour. An example of how harmful this method can be is the 2013 Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh, which killed over 1,100 garment workers.
Fashion is being produced at an astounding rate, with new trends consistently shifting the global market. However, these trends do not last long enough to be consumed in a sustainable way and often end up in landfills after a year. Just think of the “mob wife” trend, in which cheetah and other animal prints dominated every fashion house. Or think of the “Barbie” trend, in which every fashion company started producing hot pink clothing. We are consuming so much at all times that the environment, our wallets, and small brands cannot keep up.
Additionally, with fast fashion brands becoming more powerful, with Shein and Temu dominating the global market, shopping at alternative brands and investing in sustainable clothing has become increasingly difficult. However, one of the best and most responsible shopping options is not a brand at all, but the magic of thrifting.
I started heavily thrifting my clothing about five years ago, and I can safely say that over half of my closet and most of my favourite pieces are things that I thrifted. Thrifting can often be perceived as wearing people’s dirty old clothes, but in reality, you are able to find quality garments that are timeless if you know where to look.
Create a Vision Board
Thrifting can be very difficult if you have no plan or direction. Before going thrifting, you should create a board of inspiration with garments that match your personal style or would suit your wardrobe. This will make thrifting a million times easier, as you already have outfits in mind and can focus on certain parts of the thrift store, such as skirts or jackets. Knowing what you want and how you would like to style it already makes you more able to properly select pieces.
Do Not Fall for the Low Prices!
Too often, new thrifters immediately buy a bunch of clothes they feel apathetic toward just because they are cheap. In reality, the price should not be the deciding factor in your decision. By buying clothing simply for the sake of buying clothing, you are merely another stop before the landfill, as these garments sit in your closet and do not match your particular style. We want to make sure we are going to use these clothes for a long time. I want to emphasize that overconsuming thrifted clothes is still overconsumption!
Furthermore, if there is a vintage or thrifted piece you really love but it seems expensive for a second-hand shop, think about whether you would truly use that garment. If you really do love something and it fits your personal style, do not be afraid to purchase it. I thrifted a beautiful coat when I was in New York City this year, and it is by far my most-worn coat, despite being expensive when I first purchased it. What truly matters is that you feel you will get a lot of wear out of the garment.
Feel Your Garments and Carefully Inspect Them
Do not be afraid to feel the fabrics of your clothes. Most cheap fabrics are pretty easy to spot. You can also check for holes, stains, and any other anomalies. Additionally, tags can be a great way to identify genuine vintage pieces. Tags that have cute designs or say they were produced in the USA, Mexico, or Europe are usually indicators that they were produced before the 2000s.
If your garments have loose threads, no tags, and a large hem with single stitches using a woven fabric, it is an indicator that the piece is homemade, which, in my opinion, is the ultimate thrift find.
Eventually, if you spend enough time thrifting, you will be able to figure out which fabrics and materials you like and which are worth the price.
The ultimate thrift is hand-me-down clothing. I used to think that hand-me-down clothing was boring, and I always wished I could shop firsthand instead. Today, however, I absolutely love hand-me-downs and looking through my family’s clothes. Go through your family’s things (with their permission, of course), and you will find so many gems. Specifically, if you can go through your grandparents’ wardrobes, I would start there. They most likely have many vintage or unique items.
There are levels to thrifting and different stores that accommodate them differently.
Note: All stores are located in Calgary.
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The Bins
These are stores that literally have giant bins of clothing for you to rummage through. Nothing is hung up or organized. This is the most difficult level of thrifting, as you have to have a very keen eye and be willing to rummage through all sizes and types of clothing. Make sure to bring hand sanitizer, gloves, your own bags, and music. In Calgary, I only go to one rummage bin location.
Change Is Good
Change Is Good is my absolute favourite boutique because they have so many neat and interesting things at pretty reasonable prices, but their rummage sales are fantastic. They occur monthly at the Calgary Dream Centre, and I have found many genuine vintage pieces that easily could have been resold for over fifty dollars.
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Large Chain Thrift Stores and Charity Thrift Stores
These places will have items organized by size and style, and everything will be hung up for you. These places do require some digging because things are not curated beyond a basic level. Be aware of the least busy days and restock days because that is when you will find the best pieces.
Charity thrift stores are, in my opinion, the best because you are supporting a good cause, the pieces are often great finds, and the stores are very quaint. Some of my favourite locations in Calgary include:
17th Ave Thrift
Supports local animal shelters and has many vintage pieces. The only downside is that it is very small, so there is not a large selection.
Change Is Good
I will not stop raving about this place. It is located in Inglewood and is a little boutique that supports the Calgary Dream Centre. It is genuinely so cute, and I have found so many great pieces there. The only thing is that the prices have been steadily increasing recently, so be aware of that.
Humane the Thrift Store
Located in Kensington, this store has many beautiful finds and cute pieces. The only thing is that I personally have not found any vintage clothing there, if that is your interest.
Value Village
This is my favourite chain thrift store in terms of clothing. I have found many great pieces that are focal points in my wardrobe, and they have a massive selection in most stores. However, they are a profit-driven company, so the prices really fluctuate and can be very expensive for what you are buying. The store can also be quite grimy, so be aware of that while shopping.
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Boutique and Consignment Stores
These stores always have gorgeous clothing because somebody is supplying them with already curated collections. The prices are often quite high, given the nature of these stores. However, this can be the easiest level for someone who is just starting to thrift.
I do not want to disparage these stores because, if you are willing to pay the price, they do have really beautiful clothing. The stores are usually pleasant and are more like a typical first-hand store in layout and design.
My personal recommendations are:
Hello Vintage
Located in Inglewood, this store has really nice authentically vintage garments. Some items can be expensive; however, I have found a lot of reasonably priced pieces. The store can get very crowded on weekends, making it difficult to shop, so keep that in mind when deciding when to visit.
The store is also packed with clothing, making it harder to notice pieces you like right away because everything is so tightly arranged. Feel free to take things off the rack, though; that is completely okay.
Peacock
This boutique always has really nice brands and a good store layout with fitting rooms. The only issue is the pricing, as some garments can be excessively expensive.
The Clothing Bar Boutique
This store is great for modern brands. There is lots of Aritzia, Brandy Melville, and Lululemon in stock. They have change rooms and plenty of mirrors as well, making it easier to shop. It can get very busy on weekends, so plan accordingly.
My only major note is that if you are specifically looking for vintage pieces, this is not the place to do it because they mainly sell second-hand modern brands.
The Nines
This store always has some incredible and unique garments. There are plenty of vintage and designer pieces in stock, especially around Stampede. The only major criticisms are the limited selection due to its smaller size and the high prices.
Keep in mind that when you are shopping here, you are getting pieces in almost brand-new condition, so the pricing is not unreasonable given the circumstances. However, it is definitely something to keep in mind.
Overall, some locations I would look into are the Inglewood and Kensington areas in Calgary, as they have a very active and unique thrift scene.
Now, with all of those tools and recommendations, I hope all of you reading this will discover the art of thrifting and find some spectacular pieces.
Happy thrifting!