Solene Rauturier from Good on You defines fast fashion as “cheap, trendy clothing that samples ideas from the catwalk or celebrity culture.” Then, clothing stores rush to get these trends on the racks as fast as possible to meet the high consumer demand for cool, trendy, and timely fashion at low costs. Hence the name fast fashion. But just as quickly as new trends pop up on the scene, they often disappear just as fast. Then, after only a couple of wears, consumers end up discarding the cheap, timely pieces that they initially jumped at the chance to buy.
Fashion is always changing, and that is part of the appeal. While it can be fun to discover new styles, pieces, and details and keep up with changing fashion, it also comes at a cost. According to Earth.org, fast fashion has helped produce 92 million tons of close-related waste and half a million tons of microplastics every year. The fast fashion industry has caused some of the most detrimental damage to the environment.
One way to combat the effects of fast fashion is to try thrifting and shopping sustainably. You can still find inexpensive, trendy, and fashionable pieces without contributing to the immensely damaging process of garment production, which overproduces clothes at an alarming rate. We’ve compiled a list of resources that can help you get started on your journey to transition to sustainable fashion, from thrifting guides to information about the history of the fast fashion industry.
10 Resources about Thrifting and Sustainable Shopping
1. Don’t Go Thrifting Without Me: A Mini-Guide to Maximize the Benefits of Thrifting – Adrienne S. Young
About the Book:
Don’t Go Thrifting Without Me is an Amazon bestseller that “demystifies the process of thrifting while highlighting all of the benefits” (Amazon). The book provides insider secrets from Adrienne S. Young, a passionate and experienced thrift shopper, including what and when to thrift in order to transform your closet or living space.
Where to Buy:
2. Big Thrift Energy: The Art and Thrill of Finding Vintage Treasures–Plus Tips for Making Old Feel New – Virginia Chamlee
About the Book:
In Big Thrift Energy, Virginia Chamlee provides an all-encompassing thrifting guide and teaches readers how and where to find the best thrift store items, how to upcycle vintage pieces, and even how you can determine the value of thrifted finds so you can make a profit from them. The book has been featured in People Mag, The Washington Post, USA Today, Apartment Therapy, Publisher’s Weekly, House Beautiful, Chairish, Sarasota Mag
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3. The Little Guide to Vintage Shopping: How to Buy, Fix, and Keep Secondhand Clothing – Melody Fortier
About the Book:
The Little Guide to Vintage Shopping is your key to shopping smart when it comes to vintage couture pieces. With this guide, you’ll learn how to find beautiful, authentic designer items without having to pay designer prices.
Where to Buy:
4. ThriftStyle: The Ultimate Bargain Shopper’s Guide to Smart Fashion – Allison Engel, Reise Moore, and Margaret Engel
About the Book:
ThriftStyle is “a must-have guide for bargain-hunting fashionistas looking to make a statement without sabotaging their budgets” (Google Books). The author leads readers to understanding how to navigate thrift and consignment shops to spot designer pieces and find the best quality items. In addition, ThriftStyle also details how to preserve second-hand finds in need of some TLC.
Where to Buy:
5. From Goodwill to Grunge: A History of Secondhand Styles and Alternative Economies – Jennifer Le Zotte
About the Book:
Business History Review called the book “a rich and timely cultural history of secondhand clothing,” while American Historical Review labeled it “an impressive and imaginative work of scholarship that will become essential reading for historians of capitalism, fashion, and consumer culture” (UNC Press). In her book, Jennifer Le Zotte explores society’s changing perceptions of second-hand shopping, “from a signifier of poverty to a declaration of rebellion” (UNC Press).
Where to Buy:
6. Clothing Poverty: The Hidden World of Fast Fashion and Second-Hand Clothes, 2nd Edition – Andrew Brooks
About the Book:
In the second edition of Clothing Poverty, Andrew Brooks investigates the world of fast fashion and the process of clothes manufacturing. Brooks includes narratives from a variety of subjects, including factory workers from China and market sellers from Mozambique, to show what happens to clothes after they’re recycled.
Where to Buy:
7. Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion – Elizabeth L. Cline
About the Book:
At one point, most Americans wore clothes that were made in the United States. But in recent years, almost all of it is sourced from abroad in order to keep up with the shifting trends and rising pace of consumption. Overdressed is one of the first monographs to investigate the rise of fast fashion and its impacts on human and environmental rights, as well as consumer behavior.
Where to Buy:
8. Fashion Revolution Podcast
About the Podcast:
Fashion Revolution Podcast explores the social and environmental problems involved with fast fashion by interviewing activists, garment workers, and other industry experts. In addition, it also encourages and teaches listeners to begin taking action against the detrimental fast fashion industry. The debut series is called “Who Made My Clothes?” and is broken into three episodes: “Garment Workers’ Voice,” “The Garment Worker Diaries,” and “Working Together Toward Change.”
Where to Listen:
9. Well Dressed with Gemma McLean
About the Podcast:
Well Dressed is about fashion wellness and the belief that fashion can be used as a wellness tool. The podcast urges listeners to view their closets as a reflection of how they feel about themselves and focus on building an intentional wardrobe that they love.
Where to Listen:
10. Wardrobe Crisis with Clare Press
About the Podcast:
Launched in July 2017, Wardrobe Crisis is one of the most podcasts about sustainable fashion. Featuring a variety of guests that include supermodels, economists, and activists, the podcast addresses issues such as climate change and labor issues in the garment industry. Based on Clare Press’ book with the same title, Wardrobe Crisis has more than 170 episodes and almost 2 million downloads.
Where to Listen:
Have you read or listened to any of these books about thrifting? What are some of your favorite books or about thrifting? Share your recommendations in the comments!
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