Image source: Thrift Club
The move toward purchasing clothing, household items, and other goods at thrift and second-hand stores is strong now for several reasons, and one group of college students in California is riding the wave of thrifting while building community, sustainability, and creativity.
Samuel Moreno, a student at California State, Long Beach, founded The Thrift Club to address the impact of fast fashion on the environment. As the project progressed, it became about much more than sustainability. The club is now in its second year, with about 200 members. In February, the group published a print magazine, producing about 250 copies to distribute around the campus and community.
“At first, it was all about the environmental impact,” Moreno stated. “Fast fashion is a huge problem in the clothing business and the planet. Textile waste is piling up at a high rate in landfills and is a serious problem. Then, as it grew, it became about educating the community of students on the best places to find affordable items, how to reduce waste, and most of all, we found so many ways to be creative.”
Moreno told WorthPoint, “We’ve held events, like flea markets in the area, with vendors selling vintage clothing, repurposed items, and artwork, and it brought students together with the community to interact and network. So much more than finding some good deals on thrifted items is happening now. Our goals are to keep talking about the benefits of thrifting and all the area resources, but also, we want to be a place for people to express themselves, be heard, and create.”
To learn more about the Thrift Club and its events, check their Instagram page.
Brenda Kelley Kim lives in the Boston area. She is the author of Sink or Swim: Tales From the Deep End of Everywhere and writes a weekly syndicated column for The Marblehead Weekly News/Essex Media Group. When not writing or walking her snorty pug, Penny, she enjoys yard sales, flea markets, and badminton.
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