THRIFTING

August 12, 2020

THRIFTING

- thetempest.co

Who's she?

Changing trends, new manufacturing technologies and low prices prompted many millennials to indulge in “fast fashion” and over-consume clothing, but then the tide turned. Two recessions led many people to rethink their need for a closet full of new clothes. For some, conscious consumerism had supplanted the philosophy of overconsumption and many people started shopping less. Not everyone curbed their over consumptive fashionable ways, though. Eighteen years later and on average, consumers purchase 60 per cent more items of clothing than they did in 2000, however, each garment is kept half as long.

Thrifting refers to the act of shopping at a thrift store, flea market, garage sale, or a shop of a charitable organization, usually with the intent of finding interesting items at a low price.

Low prices and unique vintage finds attract people who end up unintentionally helping the environment.

Why is thrifting so important?

Thrifting Reduces Water Footprints and Uses Fewer Chemicals

Water is involved in almost every stage of clothing production. It takes water to grow cotton: it takes up to 2,700 litres of water to grow the cotton needed to make one t-shirt; a pair of jeans takes over 8,000 litres of water.

In addition, cotton is an extremely pesticide-intensive crop. The pesticides can often contaminate ground and surface water. Extensive pesticide usage leads to soil acidification and agricultural run-off, which causes hypoxia in nearby surface waters and subsequently disrupts ecosystems.

Thrifting Uses Less Energy

It takes energy to transport cotton from farms to textile manufacturing facilities, to retailers and ultimately to consumers. Within the manufacturing process, a lot of energy consumption occurs during washing, de-sizing, bleaching, rinsing, dyeing, printing and finishing processes. It also takes water to produce the electricity used to power all these processes.

Throwing clothes in a landfill also requires energy. Buying secondhand keeps clothes out of landfills which saves energy because more wear is gotten from that piece of clothing. In fact, a 2007 study found that recycling or reusing cotton clothing uses just 2.6 per cent of the energy required to manufacture a garment from virgin materials.

Finally, as use of cotton in garments has slowed, use of polyester has jumped. Polyester has its origins in both natural and synthetic (think ‘oil and gas’) sources. Experts estimate that 98 per cent of future fabrics will be synthetic and 95 per cent of those synthetics will be polyester. As demand for clothing increases, demand for synthetic polyester fabric will increase and that brings with it all the environmental issues associated with oil and gas.

Thrifting Creates More Thoughtful Consumption

Shopping at thrift shops can help consumers make more thoughtful purchases. They can ask themselves, “Will I actually wear this? Will it go out of style? Do I truly need it?”

Thrifting is Cheaper

While thrifting generally takes more time and consideration, it saves money, as long as people don’t “bargain overload” and don’t buy unnecessary pieces.

https://www.watercalculator.org/footprint/how-to-dress-greener/

Don't know where to start?

Mumbai has got plenty to offer if you are looking for fantastic shopping experiences without draining your wallet too much. I’ve rounded up a list of the Indian city’s finest thrift shopping areas and flea markets for you to explore.

Chor Bazaar

Mumbai’s Chor Bazaar is bound to thrill any true fan of thrift shopping. Eccentric items from around the country and across time periods make their way to the crowded stores of this famous bazaar dating to the mid-19th century. Whether you are looking for 80s Bollywood film posters or for spare automobile parts, Chor Bazaar will give you all you are looking for, and then more.

Mutton St, Ajmer, Kumbharwada, Mumbai, India

- https://www.flickr.com/photos/floydgal/8399426374

Fashion street

Lined with vendors selling all sorts of clothes at dirt cheap prices, Fashion Street in South Mumbai is a regular haunt for Mumbai’s budget-conscious fashionistas. Clothing found here ranges from traditional wear to knock-off branded sportswear. There are also plenty of vendors selling shoes, bags, watches and accessories. Fashion Street’s 150+ busy and mostly nameless pop-up shops are up and running throughout the year, only to scale back mildly during the city’s crippling monsoons.

Mahatma Gandhi Road, Marine Lines, Mumbai, India

- Tripadvisor.in

Hill Road

From rich collections of artificial jewellery to affordable clothing in the latest trends, Bandra Hill Road’s bustling street-side pop-up stores offer some of the city’s finest budget fashion finds. Make sure to slot in a significant amount of time to spend rummaging through racks of some of the city’s best affordable traditional clothing at Hill Road’s Elco Market area. The area also has numerous small street food stores for you to refuel amidst your shopping experience.

Hill Road, Bandra West, Mumbai, India

- Times of India

Crawford Market

Crawford Market, also known as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandi, is among Mumbai’s largest and most popular. Vendors from around the country dealing in all sorts of items, from local produce and freshly ground spices to handicrafts and traditional jewellery, set up shop in the vast bazaar around the year. Located quite near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in the historic Fort neighbourhood, Crawford Market first opened in 1869.

Crawford Market, Masjid West, Mumbai, India.

- Whatshot.in

Colaba Causeway

Among the most famous street markets in India, Colaba Causeway has the city’s best collection of knock-off traditional jewellery. Causeway’s many vendors also sell clothing, shoes, bags, souvenirs, used books and electronics, among other items. Café Mondegar, which flags the northern tip of the Causeway is a fantastic spot to grab beers when you’re in need of a break from shopping.

Colaba Causeway, Colaba, Mumbai, India.