By Rosie Smith
For students who want to express their creativity or share interest in secondhand fashion, there is a club just for them. Junior Barrett Brandenburg introduced Thrifting Club this year as a way for Rockets to shop secondhand and fill up their wardrobes.
Brandenburg explained that he created the club because others might have an interest in thrifting. He also explained that during out of uniform days at school, his friends would ask where he got some of his clothes, and he would tell them that he thrifted them. “I’m saving money and looking good at the same time!” he said.
Even though he started the club, Brandenburg said he prefers to thrift solo, when he’ll listen to music and focus on searching for items. “It’s kind of hard to go [thrifting] with someone who’s new to thrifting because they’ll pull out a Nike shirt, when I go for vintage stuff, and I find what’s different out there,” he said.
“Wearing what you bought at the thrift store makes it that much better because you put the time into finding that piece,” he added.
He also added that secondhand shopping is better for the environment.
According to a New York Times’ article titled, “FASHIONOPOLIS,” by Dana Thomas published September 3, 2019, fast fashion causes society to develop stress. “More than 60% of fabric fibers are now synthetics, derived from fossil fuels, so if and when our clothing ends up in a landfill (about 85% of textile waste in the United States goes to landfills or is incinerated), it will not decay. Nor will the synthetic microfibers that end up in the sea, freshwater and elsewhere, including the deepest parts of the oceans and the highest glacier peaks.”
Secondhand shopping can also help the community by shopping at places like St. Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army, or Goodwill, who uses the money they make from the thrift stores and assist with programs and services they offer to the community. These services aid those in need of food, clothing, furniture, rent, utilities, or beds.
Brandenburg wants students to know that The Thrifting Club is a co-ed club, welcome for anyone who is interested in joining.
Most thrift meets happen on weekends or after school on Fridays.
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