Has Thrift Shopping Been Gentrified?

I want to address a hot topic in the sustainable fashion space: the gentrification of thrifting. This is the idea that the popularity of thrifting and reselling has caused price increases and depleted supply for those who rely on it. It’s a valid concern. Certainly, some stores have caught on and raised prices because they’re realizing that people will pay them! However, most of this narrative is a myth or based on anecdote. Many industry professionals and secondhand store owners verify that there is plenty of clothing to go around. Thrift stores only sell 10-20% of inventory. So there’s no reason that thrift stores would raise prices because of increased demand— they have more than enough supply. If they are raising prices, it may be because of external factors like rent, employee wage increases, or inflation. And yes, some stores are raising prices due to corporate greed and opportunism. But that is not always the case and consumers are not to blame for that. At this point, more research needs to be done on the issue in order to determine the cause of price increases. In the meantime, be thoughtful.

Also, resellers are often blamed for some of the above sentiments. However, because of the excess that thrift stores carry, resellers are actually helping to disseminate and rehome these garments, diverting it from landfill!