Imagine this. You’re walking through the mall with your friends, eating pretzels and trying on jackets. You walk into Abercrombie, try on one of their popular hoodies, fall in love with how it looks and feels, and then you check the price tag. You leave the store empty-handed.
The truth is, this scenario is becoming increasingly relatable. Trending clothes and shoes can cost over $100 dollars per piece. The Essentials hoodie and the Jordan 1s, both at soaring price points, have become such sought after staples for teenagers around the country.
In fact, sales of hoodies alone have been reaching record breaking levels.
The truth is that overpriced fashion and increasingly non-affordable clothing doesn’t seem like a new trend. However, the prices of clothing are beginning to burn an even larger hole in our pockets.
Perhaps these overwhelming costs are the reason newer, affordable, and sustainable options have emerged. Since 2018, the secondhand shopping market has increased by 87% in the U.S. In 2023, the release market grew 15 times faster than the general retail market.
More and more often, it seems that teenagers are turning to their local second hand stores to look for unique, individual looks rather than the “copy paste” type trends often seen. Shockingly, some of the main drivers for the recent increase in thrifting are teenage boys.
One survey found that 50% of teen boys look to thrift stores when they want to purchase clothing. In fact, boys are finding that even popular styles like streetwear can be found in secondhand clothing stores. Even popular, ironic “world’s greatest grandpa” t-shirts are seldom found in malls but housed in a plethora at thrift stores.
Nick Klein, a NASH senior, is among this group.
“I like thrifting because it gives me the option to buy things I would never buy at full price, but are more appealing with the low price tag. Digging through the clothes to find something good is enjoyable, especially if you are with friends,” Klein said. “Thrifting has a bad reputation sometimes, but if you spend enough time searching you’ll find something you like that no one else has.”
Brodi Newton, another NASH senior said, “I thrift because it’s way more cost effective.”
Girls, too, are finding that the advantages to thrifting far surpass the terrifying price tags at retail stores.
“Thrifting is affordable – that’s a big reason I thrift. It’s also fun to find things that no one else has,” said Gabby Rush, a NASH senior.
CBS News predicts that, by mid-2025, the resale market will reach a profit of $35 billion. Not only is this massive boom drawing in customers — it is also motivating business owners. Another news report also noted that, at present, there are 25,000 resale stores in the U.S.
Statistics show that teens are almost as likely to see someone they know at Goodwill, Plato’s closet, Style Encore, or ReVibed as they are at the mall. One survey found that around 83% of teenagers are either already thrifting or open to the idea.
In addition to the local boom in consignment stores and resale websites, social media and influencers are contributing to the draw of thrifting. YouTubers and TikTok influencers like Tabitha Swatosh are vocal about their own stance on thrifting. Swatosh has recently started a series where subscribers and fans can follow along as she furnishes and decorates her new house entirely with unique thrifted pieces.
Another popular social media “thrifter” is Kalita Hon. Hon runs a “thrifting bundle” company where customers can send her outfit inspiration and pay her to thrift according to their style. The popularity of this option is shocking, with one influencer having a waiting list of over 200 people.
It’s evident that teenagers are gravitating towards discovering their own style through cheap, sustainable, and enjoyable methods. As always, the newer generation is determining consumerism trends–but this time, they’re turning to their local consignment stores.
