Thrift shopping trend shaping LeeU student fashion, helping community
Thrift shopping has made its way onto the fashion scene in a big way, thanks to low prices and shifting trends.
Photo by Karina Radionova
LeeU students are indulging in plenty of budget-friendly habits this year, but thrift shopping has become a popular past time for many on campus.
As this shift in go-to shopping stops has spread, trends have morphed to fit the style on campus.
Grant Gregory, a senior business marketing major, said he single-handedly started his own online thrift business, The Sandlot Vintage, from a simple idea driven by the social media platform Instagram.
“Over the last two years, thrift shopping has really taken off. The whole '90s look is back,” Gregory said.
The inspiration behind his business model lies in his own endless pursuit of high-fashion choices among the rows of clothing in Cleveland's thrift shops—a hobby which can eventually become more of a chore than a relaxing experience.
“Nobody wants to take the time to shuffle through two hundred articles of clothing to find one T-shirt, so I became the middleman,” Gregory said. “You can look through the page and if you find something you like, just direct message me. And if no one’s taken it yet, it’s yours.”
Despite the drudgery that can sometimes accompany hours of pursuing thrift store racks, Gregory offered advice to those wanting to dip their toes in this unique way of shopping.
“Consistency is key to thrift-shopping,” Gregory said. “Budget-wise, you can’t go cheaper because you won’t walk out of there spending more than five dollars on an article of clothing. It’s completely original and creative.”
Melon Toy, a junior business administration and marketing major, gushed about her trip to a nearby thrift store, Samaritan Center, in Ooltewah, Tenn.
“It was about 30 minutes away and it was so worth it because everything there was only 75 cents,” Toy said. “The thrift store had every kind of style you can think of. They had boho, business professional, retro, and so much more.”
Angela Williams, senior advertising and pre-med double major, said that thrift shopping has more to it than just adding more choices to your wardrobe. She said there's a bit of heart involved as well.
“A lot of these thrift stores aren’t trying to make money off of selling things, but they're also putting that money towards a certain organization or project,” Williams said.
Reflecting on her personal favorite thrift stores, Williams expounded on the ministry happening behind the thrift store racks.
“I really like Habitat for Humanity, because what they’re doing for the community is really cool. They help bring in families and allow them to work in their ‘ReStore,’ which is their thrift store, in order to pay off their home," Williams said. "Another good place is called River of Life Thrift Store, and it supports a local church.”
Williams appealed to millennial shoppers with dwindling bank accounts to consider switching to thrift—if for no other reason than to help out those in the Cleveland area who can afford even less.
“As millennials, we need to focus on giving back any way we can, and a lot of times it’s just with our time, but this is a way you can give back money-wise. So, go to thrift stores.” Williams said. “In doing that, you’re supporting the local community.”
