I know it can feel like no matter how much you try to live ethically, you are always doing something wrong. As much as I believe there is no ethical consumption under capitalism, I do think there are ways to thrift more ethically. https://twitter.com/fromaerin/status/1331617098582294529

If you can actually afford to buy clothes from vintage sellers and reselling stores, then do that instead! If you are buying from places like depop, then prioritize following and buying from POC sellers.

If you are thrifting, then don’t go to low income neighborhoods to do your thrifting. Also, buy things you will actually wear or you will actually fix up. Don’t buy something you won’t use simply because it is $1.

When you find something cute & oversized, think twice about buying it because it is really hard for plus size people to find cute clothes that fits them.

This obviously depends on where you live and the thrift store options around you but try to avoid chain thrift stores like Goodwill and Salvation Army ~ opt for the smaller ones since they’re more likely to be using their money for good

Also, if you are looking to really be sustainable, learn the basics of sewing! That way you can buy things other people might not want: ripped, stained, and weirdly fitting things

Ripped - easily mendable
Stained - put a patch over it or dye it
Weird Fit - alter it

Also, if you regular a thrift store then find out what day they restock (there is usually one day dedicated to restocking) and try to thrift the days before the restock since the stuff leftover is most likely to end up in the landfill

Also if you have a thrift outlet near you, prioritize going to that one because they get all the leftovers and less desirables from the main thrift store they are associated with ~ aka also more likely to go to the landfill

Ultimately, as long as you aren’t going to the thrift store and filling up a cart of like $100 worth of clothes just because you can, then you are probably doing fine.

Depending on the thrift store, up to 80% of everything still end up going to the landfill

Oh! And try to avoid donating to thrift stores! It is only like one step above just throwing something in the landfill yourself

Also follow imperfectidealist on tiktok and IG

THANK YOU FOR COMING TO MY TEDTALK!!!!

One of these days I’ll actually make content with all this knowledge I have