This is written for NM4248 Lifestyle Writing, where I was supposed to write a feature article of my choice.
Caption: Thrift shops today are frequented by people of all ages. Due to its popularity, Singapore’s largest thrift shop chain, Refash, has opened 12 outlets island wide. PHOTO: ERICA KUO
In the late 2010s, when 26-year-old social media manager, Nicole Chin, donned in her mother's unwanted clothes, her friends would look at her with disdain. There was a stigma to wearing second-hand clothing then – that it is bad luck, dirty and only meant for low-income consumers.
Close to a decade later, she feels vindicated after seeing how people around her see her thrifted outfits as a badge of honour, becoming more accepting of the second-hand world.
Thrifting is not a new phenomenon in Singapore, but it only became more accepted after it has grown in popularity, especially among Millennials and Generation Z. Today, thrifting is seen as “cool” and “good for the environment”.
In the past, thrifting took place in the form of Karang guni (Malay for gunny sack), where men visited residents door-to-door to collect their old items for reselling at flea markets.
Charity thrift shops run by non-profit organisations such as the Salvation Army were also another common sight then. These thrift shops sell everything from clothes to household goods.
However, most donations were made by the older generation, especially during festive seasons like Chinese New Year.
Fast forward, there are more than 100 thrift shops in Singapore currently. From chains like Refash to fresh start-ups such as Treadlightly to Instagram thrift shops like Charmai and Earthythrifts. However, unlike in the past, many of these shops have their niche area – some only sell fast fashion brands while others only sell specific styles.
The surge in thrift shops is due to the increasing demand for second-hand shopping, fuelled by the advent of social media. Social media has raised awareness of and normalised thrifting, thus reducing the stigma associated with second-hand goods.
For Chin, coming from a big family means she often receives hand-me-downs from her relatives, allowing her to be more receptive to used clothes. However, her thrift journey only started after watching a thrift shopping experience on YouTube by local influencer Bong Qiu Ting.
"Before that, I have never thought of going thrifting. After seeing her find so many trendy clothes at such a low price, I was motivated to try out thrifting as well," Chin says.
18-year-old Charlotte Chan, who owns an Instagram thrift shop, Charmai, mentioned that she initially thought that second-hand clothes were ugly until social media.
"I got interested in thrifting after stumbling upon an Instagram post by Daisypasie, one of the bigger local online shops in the thrift community then. Noticing that her pieces are all very unique, I direct messaged her asking her where she thrifts since it wasn't common knowledge then," Chan says.
The thrifting trend is further escalated by TikTok. Last year, youths started posting their thrifted outfits, thrifting vlogs, upcycling and sewing tutorials on TikTok, influencing many to adopt thrifting as a shopping lifestyle.
Additionally, spurred on by the increased societal pressure to stay trendy, thrifting has become a good way for people, especially students, to maintain a fashionable image while on a tight budget.
"Thrifting allows you to find unique clothes no one else has, and it's much cheaper," Chin says.
To many, particularly the individualistic Generation Z, fashion has become more about expressing oneself than mass conformity. Thrifting is an affordable avenue for one to explore their style.
"Before I started thrifting, I wasn't very fashion inclined and often dressed in t-shirt and shorts. But after I found out about thrifting, I began to explore my own style more," says Chan, who started Charmai hoping that it can help people explore their fashion more affordably.
Furthermore, the rise in sustainable thinking among young consumers also caused thrifting to become more popular.
According to the National Environment Agency, Singaporeans produced 168 tonnes of textile and leather waste in 2019. However, only six tonnes were recycled. The clothing in the landfills is usually made of synthetic fabric fibres that will never decompose.
To combat the high amount of wastes generated, the government released the Singapore GreenPlan 2030 last month, a national sustainability movement that seeks to tackle climate change. According to the plan, Singapore intends to reduce waste to landfill per capita per day by 20 per cent by 2026, and 30 per cent by 2030. Engaging in circular practices, such as thrifting, is one such way to reduce wastes.
"When thrifting, I feel better about my purchases since I don't have to worry about the environmental impact of clothing overproductions or whether any unfair labour practices went into making a piece of garment, especially with fast fashion being so cheap," Chin says.
With the many benefits of thrifting, more youths have adopted the thrift culture, but this influx has raised concerns.
Consumers may tend to impulse buy anything that catches their eye in the thrift shop since they are cheap and "doesn't harm the environment".
However, this would only result in excess clothes being neglected in the wardrobe, which will inevitably end up in landfills, leading to waste.
To prevent over-thrifting, Chin cautions to "Only buy what you need and what you think you will wear for a long time".
Chan also adds that resellers should not over-thrift to maximise profits.
"Usually, I'll try to sell everything by dropping the price for those that are not selling well before sourcing for more clothes. If I really can't sell them, I'll either use it as scrap material for my reworks or donate it to the Salvation Army," Chan says.
Another concern raised is that youths who are thrifting "for fun" are taking clothes away from those in need.
In the past, thrift shops are frequented by low-income consumers. However, if more youths start thrifting at these shops, all the cheap clothes will be bought by them, leaving little for those who rely on these shops.
Chin, however, disagrees. "There's generally a lot of excess clothes circulating this world, so there's definitely enough to go around. At the end of the day, if people are making efforts to be sustainable, I think that's good enough."
On the contrary, if more people thrifts, these thrift shops can stay in business for a longer time, given the low prices of second-hand items coupled with the high rental fees.
With benefits outweighing the perceived drawbacks, it is of little wonder that thrifting is rapidly gaining popularity. The biggest question, however, is: Is thrifting here to stay?
"In the long run, I think it's going to sustain itself because it has its attractive points like affordability and uniqueness of the garment. Of course, there'll be people who give up after the first time if they don’t manage to find anything they like. But I think most people will keep trying? Or if they don't thrift themselves, they know of Instagram thrift shops where they can second-hand thrift from, so it has become as convenient as ordering from fast fashion online," Chan says
Her sentiment is echoed by Chin. "Thrifting is similar to online shopping. In the past, people have qualms about shopping online, but it has now become a habit. Thrifting is the same thing. Once people are aware of it, they will inculcate it into their shopping habits. So, thrifting will remain popular."
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