Over the years, there has been a significant increase in thrift store sales.
But it’s not only because the price is always right when buying second-hand.
“I have noticed that the business is growing rapidly every year.” said David Cho, operations manager at Vintage Depot.
He says Torontonians, millennials especially, have been paying more attention to how their actions affect the planet.
Some of these actions include bringing a reusable bag, a reusable mug and bringing food instead of buying it.
The action that seems to be the most popular is buying second-hand goods.
Stores like the Vintage Depot give you access to buying second-hand clothing, while also being able to donate items you may no longer use.
“Not only we are offering brand name clothing at an affordable rate, we are reducing landfill waste that is currently at a rate of 16 billion tons every year,” said Cho.
He said they are also working on altering damaged clothing to help make them sellable.
He thinks clothing in particular can be the greatest find when searching through a thrift store.
You can usually find the latest trends at a bargain.
Ciragh Lyons, the creative director at Pegasus Community Project for Adults with Special Needs, says that young people are drawn to thrifting because thrift stores are full of clothing trends that you can’t find in high fashion stores.
Lyons has been working with Pegasus for three and a half years.
Pegasus is a community dedicated to giving opportunities of growth and participation to adults with developmental disabilities throughout Toronto.
Lyons was working as a high school teacher, working closely with special needs students, before deciding to join Pegasus.
“Pegasus is an established organisation that supports individuals in pursuing their goals and providing opportunities to engage in the wider community, they are very progressive and open to new ways to keep growing,” Lyons said.
The Pegasus Shoppe doesn’t just offer clothes.
It offers a wide selection of items, from kitchen utensils and small appliances, to home decor. They also have books, CDs, DVDs, jewelry, and much more.
“We are very lucky, we get amazing items in the store all of the time,” Lyons said.
Being a thrifter herself, Lyons noticed a rise in the trend of thrifting.
She says with todays fashion trends headed back towards the ’80s and ’90s, young people are gravitating more towards second-hand stores than they are to the mall.
“Plus young people are more environmentally conscious so it’s win win for them,” Lyons said.
She believes that although people are buying second-hand to follow fashion trends, that ultimately they are focused on being eco-friendly.