Thrift Shopping in 2021

Thrift Shopping in 2021 -  view from the Indian Subcontinent

Before we get into what 2021 holds for the world of thrift fashion let us jus quickly update newbies about thrifting - 

What is thrift shopping all about?

Are Indians ready for thrift shopping? 

Which are the best thrift shops?

Read along to find the answers.

What is thrift shopping all about?

The word "thrift" actually means to utilize money without wasting it. Or in other words spending money consciously. Therefore, dear reader, if you want to understand Thrift Shopping you need to first understand what thrifting exactly means and then you will easily understand what fashionistas use it to imply. 

Thrifting therefore, is not limited to fashion. Though it is excessively associated with fashion these days. There is also a misnomer that thrifting only implies second hand shopping. In fact, thrifting includes, not buying at all. In case a product is upcycled or reused it still comes under the categorical meaning of thrifting. In the world of fashion, thrift fashion has become synonymous to selling and buying preloved fashion, although technically it also includes vintage wear, unused and export rejects. So now you know what is this new trend that is all over social media.

Are Indians ready for thrift shopping? 

Indians were always sustainable shoppers, except for a small percentage of high-end fashionistas - who perhaps used their outfits only once and discarded them regularly. But still, such outfits were either passed on, donated or resold. Unlike other countries, wasting products or clothes that are in fairly good condition is considered a taboo in this part of the continent.  You will rarely see any good stuff just being thrown away. It will either be given to the servants or donated to the poor. In Western countries, it is very common and normal to find almost everything and anything discarded, maybe it is the problem of plenty. Anyway, that is an altogether different topic. What I am trying to say is that, people in western countries had to be taught about the effects of discarding their lightly used or unused clothes. The ill-effects of fashion is an ongoing learning for them. Not, for majority of us, desis, who are not accustomed to this "throw away" culture. They have been practicing and still good at bargaining, upcycling and recycling. 

Image: War on Waste host Craig Reucassel standing on top of a mountain of clothes in Martin Place to illustrate the problem of 'fast fashion'.(ABC TV)

We need to appreciate ourselves and give ourselves credit for being "jugaadu", it is been a sustainable practice in fashion, all along! And, yes, we have been and are always ready for thrift shopping! Find me one Indian who is not happy with a good deal, find me one Indian who has thrown away a good outfit! None! I am sure. My dear fellow Indians, be proud of yourself, you are way ahead of most westerners in Sustainable Fashion. 

Which are the best thrift shops?

Close to a hundred thrift shops are open on the internet. How do we know who is genuine? I think the best thrift shop is the shop near you that sells export rejects or the tailor who can upcycle your saree. The next best are the ones selling pre-loved items. Mind you, minor defects are acceptable but not major and of course it is subjective. But, nevertheless each clothing item that goes up for sale has to be cleaned thoroughly. If the fabrics aren't clean or not sorted then you can be sure they are not serious about this business. Because cleanliness is the basic requirement. 

Nowadays, we also find swap-parties being organized in apartments or communities. These are a good option too as you know that the seller is genuine, shipping cost is nil and travel cost is also minimum. . You can thrift shop from flea markets too whenever you travel, and also support local artists.

The last but not the least are the Instagram based thrift shops. These are good if they aren't priced steeply and don't ship from a long distance, else it defeats the purpose. 

Shopping/Thrifting

Well, for the year ahead and also for a lifetime ahead, choose and buy! Spend your penny well! That's my advise like a grandma to all you millennials and those on the other side as well!  There is no general formula. It is different for everyone, based on criteria like frequency of shopping, budget, purpose of shopping, place of shopping, time of shopping and so on. Many factors influence us while we make a particular purchase. We as consumers, need to be conscious of where and how our money is being spent. Basically, we are voting for a kind a world we want by buying things, unknowingly. We need to realize the impact that our consumerism can have globally, not just on the economy but also on the environment. 

In this regard, thrifting is no doubt a suitable way of reducing carbon footprints. Give it a go once and explore this age old practice that is now trending again!

Thrift fashion for the year 2021 is looking up and is expected to gain more popularity by the year end and this trend is not going down for few more years, it is only projected to gain more attention and followers. Join this bandwagon and enjoy the ride while you are at it, happy thrifting!