Online Secondhand Shopping Sites
Courtesy of BMI Lab
Written By: Mariel Persico
“I need to place a Shein order” is one of the most frequently heard phrases on campus. However, if you care at all for the environment or human workers’ rights, it may be time to rethink that order.
Due to their ability to create products quickly as new trends arise, Shein and all fast-fashion chains alike pollute the environment and exploit their workers. The materials in most clothes from these fast fashion stores are made of microplastics and dangerous chemicals which are harmful to the environment and contribute to climate change. The mass production and purchasing of these clothes leads to tons of waste which ends up in landfills and our oceans. The working conditions are also dangerous and unjust for workers, who are most times children. However, the good news is that there are more sustainable shopping alternatives. In addition to your local thrift and secondhand shop stores, here are a variety of other online options:
Poshmark: Poshmark is an app/website where you can buy clothes, jewelry, home decor, and even unopened beauty products from individual sellers for a fraction of the product’s original price. The app features almost every brand you can imagine ranging from Chanel and Louis Vuitton to Lululemon and Urban Outfitters. You can even try and bargain the price with sellers by making an offer lower than the listed price.
Depop: Depop is another app/website similar to Poshmark where you can buy and sell clothes, jewelry, etc. Depop’s main difference is that it focuses on hand-crafted and vintage items. It is more geared towards younger shoppers on the lookout for unique finds.
The RealReal: If you are looking to buy designer items, be sure to check out The RealReal first. This website features luxury items at a fraction of their original price. Every item goes through a rigorous authentication process to ensure that they are all genuine designer products.
ThredUp: ThredUp, although similar to Poshmark and Depop, carries clothing, accessories, and shoes, but not jewelry. Still, they offer designer and premium brands for a discounted price. If you are looking for a fashion grab bag, you can purchase a goodie bag. This bag contains 10 surprise pieces curated to your specific style and needs based on a questionnaire. You must pay a $10 deposit and then only pay for the pieces you would like to keep. Another box you can purchase is a rescue box. These contain a number of surprise pieces in need of some repair, or that are just not in perfectly good condition, for a fraction of the normal price.
ASOS Marketplace: An offshoot of the website ASOS, ASOS marketplace, brings together modern and vintage pieces from consignment stores and thrift shops, rather than individual sellers just trying to get rid of their old clothes. Individual sellers who have a clothing brand can still sell here, however, which makes it the perfect spot to find unique pieces.
It is definitely challenging to find everything you need from these second-hand stores, but it is important to try. Buying fewer higher-quality pieces second-hand rather than tons of bad-quality clothing is saving workers’ rights, our planet, and even your wallet.