Walking the halls of Haldane, you’re sure to spot some high schoolers sporting vintage shirts, thrifted jeans and sweaters, or old shoes that are far from fresh out the box. Contrary to past generations, where newer meant cooler, many Haldane students today are drawn to older styles. Larger thrift stores in the area– including Goodwill, Salvation Army, and Plato’s Closet– and small second-hand shops– such as Graymoor on Route 9 in Garrison– are gaining the attention and business of high school students seeking out old shirts with unique graphics, or jeans with a little more character and wear than you’d typically find at the mall. Additionally, the emergence of online platforms, such as Depop or Grailed, has contributed to the recent popularity of second-hand shopping among students.
The staggering price disparity between secondhand and new clothing is one of the main factors contributing to the growing trend. Unlike shopping name-brand, where a high-quality pair of jeans is often sold for upwards of $75, thrifted pants at stores like Goodwill or Plato’s Closet typically range between 5 and $15. Shirts can usually be found for under $10, and barely worn shoes are sold for $20 to $30. This significant price difference is a huge motivator for high school students and individuals on a budget looking for nice clothes without having to break the bank.
Another important differentiator between shopping for secondhand versus brand new clothing is the luck involved in thrifting. When shopping for clothes online, most people know roughly what they’re looking for. Each thrift store, on the other hand, is different, and you have no idea what you may find on any given day. Due to consistent sales and donations, their inventories are constantly evolving, teaching any experienced thrifter that they may not always find exactly what they were looking for. That being said, if students know where to look and what to look for, they can often find hidden gems, or at the very least something that suits their taste. Sophomore Silvia Hardman described the joy of finding a unique item at a thrift store. She said, “It’s such a rush when thrifting to find a piece that either fits you perfectly or is such a fascinating statement piece that you just can’t give it up.” For example, junior Lugh Hartford recounted finding a Dior tie at a thrift store–his favorite item he has found. Likewise, senior Dylan Ambrose said she found two of her homecoming dresses at thrift stores, demonstrating that thrifting often produces both stylish and valuable clothing for a fraction of the resale price. That being said, Hardman noted that the real fun comes from sharing the experience with a friend. She said, “Most of the joy of thrifting is going with someone else, though, and the ‘oh this is so you’ or the mutual convincing to buy things.”
Other than aesthetics and the appeal of the hunt, many students are drawn to the fact that thrifting is sustainable and gives old, used clothes a new life. In an age of fast fashion and cheaply produced clothing filling up landfills, wearing thrifted clothes helps provide perfectly wearable clothes with a new purpose. Ambrose highlighted that the sustainable nature of thrifting is one of the main reasons she enjoys it. She stated, “overconsumption is obviously a big issue right now, and I think it’s better to shop secondhand because then you’re not creating more waste in the world.” According to a 2024 survey of over 16,000 young people published in The Lancet, 85 percent of respondents said that they were at least moderately worried about climate change. With sustainability being of such high concern among adolescents, thrifting provides a more climate-friendly, less wasteful approach to shopping. Many Haldane students also donate to thrift stores, making further contributions to the cycle of clothing resale. Hardman discussed donating to thrift sales. She stated, “Plato’s Closet is the one I donate to most often- though I save some clothes all year to donate to the St. Mary’s sale.” Through donations and purchases, Haldane students are eager to contribute to the cycle of sustainability central to thrift culture.
