What are thrift stores?

Thrift stores are stores that collect used items from community members and resell them as second-hand items, especially clothing and accessories. Items in thrift stores are generally cheaper than the regular market price due to their previous usage. 

When people bring clothing items to thrift stores, they are sold, and then another person donates, creating a cycle of clothes being recycled and reused continuously.  This practice is highly environmentally and economically beneficial as it reduces the need to constantly purchase new clothes from brands that follow fast fashion and are typically higher in price.

Why is thrifting sustainable?

Did you know that making a pair of jeans uses around 1,800 gallons of water during the production process? In addition to the growing process of cotton itself, is it pesticide intensive? According to the University of Colorado, most clothes take centuries to decompose into landfills, which means that with people continuously discarding and repurchasing clothing, the amount of clothing sent to landfills yearly is significantly high. Furthermore, by producing new clothes, there are potential risks of leaking harmful chemicals and crude oil by-products that can contaminate the environment in which we, along with other living beings reside. Through thrifting, we can reduce the demand for the manufacture of new clothing items, making each clothing piece more long-lasting and benefiting the environment significantly by limiting the wasted resources that come with each new clothing item. (Mullen & Huun, 2014).

So… why should I thrift?

1. You get cool and fashionable clothes and accessories!

2. You get them for a low price!

3. There are lots of options for any style you love!

Where are some popular thrift locations in Hong Kong?

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