Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Ryan McGill and courtesy of Payton Grace

Whether you’re heading back to school, starting a new job, or attending a special event, there are plenty of reasons why you might need to expand your wardrobe. You could head to the mall or the boutique and “shop ‘til you drop,” or you could be a savvy online shopper and wait for your purchases to arrive at your doorstep. However, there is a third alternative for sourcing your next look that you may not have considered—the local thrift store.

Here are some advantages to shopping for clothes at your local thrift store.

Save Money

On average, the cost of clothing items in a thrift store is 50% to 80% less than retail cost. While the clothes on the racks at a thrift store are not always brand new, they are often in good used condition, as thrift store teams have vetting processes for items that are donated. On some occasions, you can find items with price tags offering them at a fraction of retail price. Before you drop a chunk of your paycheck on that new blouse at the department store, check your local thrift store to see if you can find a comparable (or even better) item that will be kinder to your budget.

Help the Environment

Another advantage to thrift shopping is that it creates a second life for clothing and helps keep it out of landfills. A vast majority of clothing is made of synthetic materials that are not biodegradable. Because of this, clothing that is tossed in the trash will occupy space in landfills for years on end and create pollutants that harm the air we breathe. In addition to being budget-friendly, thrift shopping is also eco-friendly!

Contribute to the Local Economy

Many thrift stores are locally owned businesses that have partnerships with charities benefiting the communities they are in. When you shop at these stores, your money helps the community you live in thrive and flourish.

To offer you advice on how to get the most out of your thrifting experience, 78 Magazine sat down with Payton Grace, owner of 205 Vintage, to learn the steps she takes in sourcing the items that she sells in her business.

Have a Strategy

“Know what you’re looking for when you go in. Finding what you’re looking for is much easier when you have it in mind,” Payton says. “Scan aisles by looking for materials and patterns. If you want a linen dress, look for linen. If you want vintage jeans, keep your eyes open for denim. Having a goal in mind is helpful and takes a lot of the stress out of shopping.”

Be Persistent

Realizing that you may sometimes leave a thrift store empty-handed is part of the process. The good news is that thrift stores are constantly stocking their shelves, so if you didn’t find something you were looking for at the beginning of the week, it may just be there by the end of the week.

“You don’t have to go every single day but popping in your favorite thrift store two or three times a week is a good idea. You’d be surprised at how persistence pays off in the thrifting world,” says Payton.

Research

“Go with a search engine pulled up and ready to use,” Payton suggests. “If you like an item, learn about it! Either do a very detailed search with brand, pattern, material, etc., or do a reverse image search of the item. Oftentimes you’ll find that you’re getting a really good deal on the item, and you’ll find model shots that give ideas on how to style it once you buy it.”

Give Your Items Another Life

Contribute to the thrifting cycle! When you are ready to part ways with your clothing, donate it to your local thrift store so that someone else might find a second life for it. What is no longer useful to you may just become someone else’s staple wardrobe piece.

Where to Thrift Shop

America’s Thrift Store, Jasper

America’s Thrift Stores rely on donations from the local community to collect used clothing and household items. Those items are sold back to the community and profits are shared with charities that provide funding to help with addiction recovery and children’s illnesses.

Salvation Army Thrift Store, Jasper

Proceeds from items sold at Salvation Army thrift stores are used to fund Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Centers, where those struggling with drugs and alcohol find help, hope, and a second chance at life.

205 Vintage, Instagram

Jasper native Payton Grace began her online thrifting business as a means of helping her family when they were impacted by the pandemic. Soon after, it became a passion for her as she learned about the environmental impacts of trashed clothing and fast fashion. Over a year later, she is putting that passion to work daily, helping her customers expand their wardrobes sustainably and without stress.

“Let me do the hard work!” she says. “I ensure that everything I sell is of good quality, and I do the research to be sure I am selling at prices significantly less than retail.” 

Payton sorts all her items into curated collections, many following a theme like Desert Dusk, Indigo Moon, and Sunset Lover, and schedules the collections to be posted for sale at designated times so her audience knows what to expect and when to expect it, creating an easy, accessible thrifting experience. 78