By: Sierra Hauer

   Greensburg residents know that when fashion trends come and go, you can usually find the remnants scattered throughout thrift stores.

   Stores like Goodwill have lots of affordable clothes that can help people develop their own style and fill their wardrobes.

   “Thrift shopping to me is just an affordable way to get really good clothes,” senior Damiana Walker said. “Everything I’ve ever gotten from thrifting has lasted me longer than a lot of clothes newly bought. Plus, thrifting helps me find clothes that suit my out of the box style.”

   Thrift shops often have a lot of older items of clothing, so they are very useful to find outdated styles that are becoming popular again.

   “I think thrift shopping became popular again because history tends to repeat itself with fashion trends that were extremely popular in that time,” freshman Marlie Dietz said.

   Many teens agree that certain styles tend to bounce in and out of the spotlight of what is popular.

   “I feel like there has been a rise in thrifting due to the whole vintage aesthetic coming back, such as mom jeans, dad sweaters, baggy shirts and low waisted jeans,” Walker said.

   Regardless of what is or isn’t in style at the time, thrift stores still have a great variety of affordable clothes thanks to the community. Thrift shops – especially smaller local ones – thrive off donations, so it is important to donate old clothes that could still be worn.

   “I donate things that I don’t use or wear anymore because I feel that if I have something that, while it may not be of value to me, it might prove useful or nice to someone else,” Dietz said.

   Even if people think that no one would want to wear an article of clothing because it isn’t cute enough or it doesn’t fit their aesthetic, it is still much better for the environment to donate old clothes.

   “Fast fashion is polluting the earth when companies are mass producing clothing made out of cheap materials that aren’t good for the environment,” sophomore Emily Frazier said. “And once something goes ‘out of style’ people just throw it out, but after a while, the amount of clothing being thrown out will add up.”

   With fast fashion stores like Hollister, Rue 21 and even Hot Topic, trendy and sometimes low-quality clothes are mass produced and sold. This mass production often has terrible effects on the environment.

   “Fast fashion production and manufacturing processes result in a lot of greenhouse gas emissions, which is damaging to our already damaged planet,” Dietz said. “Fast fashion also depletes non-renewable sources and uses massive amounts of water and energy.”

   Even though fast fashion can be harmful, some people just can’t avoid it.

   “I think fast fashion is a tricky business because not many people know where their clothes are actually coming from and what they’re made of,” Frazier said. “Most people go for the name brand clothing just because it’s trending without really knowing the consequences.”

   Whether people are buying from name brand stores or shopping second hand, it is always important to donate or recycle used clothes so they don’t add to the pollution fast fashion has caused.

   One major thing that has changed regarding thrifting as it has become more popular, though, is that people tend to be more open minded about it now. In the past, there was often a stigma regarding thrifting. Some people thought it was just for poorer people, but everyone can find great things while thrifting.

   “I think the stigma that people are being looked down on for secondhand shopping has changed tremendously,” Frazier said. “Since thrifting has become a ‘trend,’ more and more people have been less afraid of being judged and hopped on the bandwagon and realized that it is pretty fun and you can find really good things.”