Expressing oneself through clothing can be quite expense, but thanks to something called “thrifting” students are able to stay fashionable without breaking the bank.
Thrift shopping is an affordable way to keep up with the latest trends for young fashion forward individuals.

The new trend helps individuals keep up their look while not losing every last cent they might have. But at what price do individuals pay to “Keep Up With the Kardashians?”

“I thrift shop because it is affordable and I can get a lot of things for a greater price than I can in the mall or clothing stores,” Reggie Williams, 21, political science major said.

Some merely thrift to save on clothing expenses and be fashion-forward while others have lived with this lifestyle because of financial barriers that kept them from popular brand names.

Joshua Kirby, 18, undeclared said that he grew up on secondhand ideas but always found ways to look presentable and fashionably for school.

Many young individuals have the confidence to wear whatever they want. While the trends change, so do the outfits and attitudes people have towards fashion change too.

“I am a one of a kind guy so i like to get one of a kind pieces. The thrift shop does influence style by mixing clothes. Fashion is generic now a days but shopping at a thrift shop gives you independence with it,” Pitalako Herron, 20, Chinese major said.

Individual ideas of what’s hip changes over time. It can change from Urkle to a hipster, from baggy jeans to skinny leg, hip-hugger to high-waisted pants. With time, fashion ideas change.

“I’m not into fashion but I find things people don’t normally have. Brand names and all for cheaper prices,” Williams said.

People who love to experiment with fashion tend to stand-out with their unique look. Others have bad experience shopping in thrift store. They find it gross to reuse others hand-me-downs and second hand clothing while the store reaps the profit benefits from donations.

My experience thrift shopping was a couple years ago. I noticed that all the used stuff was kinda dirty and i didn’t really like it. So I don’t like thrift shopping,” Julian Dakdouk, 20, theater major said.

Nonetheless, thrift shopping helps recycle items and clothing that would build up in landfills without donations.

Dakdouk said when trying to sale to the stores they are “stingy with their stuff. Trying to get all the profit.”

Trends come and go when it comes to fashion consumption, thrifting not only helps the pockets of individuals but the environment as well.

“When I go to the club I’ll be flashing unique clothes being the only guy with this shirt on or these draws on and women will gravitate toward me,” Williams said.