The History of Thrift Shops | Definition & Timeline
Table of Contents
What Are Thrift Shops in the First Place?
Where did the idea of thrift shops come from?
What was the thrift shop first?
When did thrift shops become popular?
When is the national thrift shop day?
What is the goal behind launching thrift shops?
Why is thrifting a way of sustainable living?
Jane Fonda, the attractive, well-known Oscar-winning actress, and campaigner in her 80s who recently declared she would never purchase new clothing again may be seen in a thrifting store. Evidently, she had heard of sustainability and the fact that we produce more clothing than we use globally.
The term "thrift" derives its meaning from the Medieval English words "fact or state of prospering" and "prosperity, savings" from the 1300s. Its beginnings may be emerging from the judicious use of resources to succeed rather than from a place of despair.
The first signs of the industry date back to the 1300s and included heaps of clothing in market squares. The secondhand trade started as a trading system, servicing low-income populations throughout the Middle Ages as society developed.
While being practiced in earlier periods, the contemporary concept of thrifting was developed entirely in the middle of the 1800s and the beginning of the 1900s with the establishment of institutions like the Salvation Army and Goodwill.
Before now, the Industrial Revolution popularized the idea of more inexpensive throwaway apparel. Secondhand consumption developed a stigma, which targeted immigrant groups and encouraged xenophobia as classism spread with a widening economic gap.
Hence, the early days of thrifting in the 1900s were marked by unfair ignorance and judgment. This perception persisted up until the Great Depression when there was a more considerable demand for secondhand clothing than there was actual availability.
Because of the fast cultural shift throughout the 20th century, the second half of the century was considerably more accepting of the secondhand concept. Particularly in the 1970s, a new wave of thrifting had strong ties to the counterculture of the time.
Thrifting still maintained a hold on many underlying subcultures during the 1980s, even though the decade was known for its extravagant fashion and emphasis on all things new wave. Icons like Andie Walsh from the movie "Pretty in Pink" helped to keep the desire for thrifting alive by fusing old and new.
From the glitzy, vibrant '80s, the advent of the grunge period in the '90s marked a dramatic turnabout. Icons like Kurt Cobain spearheaded the movement to return to thrift and reject the status quo.
The used clothes and resale market is believed to be over $28 billion and shows no signs of shrinking as time progresses. Therefore thrifting is a constant in our culture. It has served as a metaphor for fresh beginnings brought about by immigration, for individuality and freedom, for the ties that bind the past and the present, and for commentary on the status quo over the years.
We are environmentalists because we don't let used clothing end up in a landfill by buying it secondhand or from internet thrift stores. We need to do the earth and our wallets a favor by visiting the thrift store rather than the fancy clothes store because there is already such a great and broad selection of clothing available.
What Are Thrift Shops in the First Place?
The thrift store—also known as the "charity shop" in the UK and the "opportunity shop" in other parts of the world—is where individuals can buy used items of many types, including clothing, furniture, music, electronics, and miscellaneous products.
These stores are frequently operated by non-profit organizations that collect donations of usable things and then offer them to the general public at low costs. Customers frequent non-profit, brick-and-mortar thrift shops run by social service organizations in low-income areas instead of the chain stores or designer clothing boutiques typically found there.
The "consignment shop" concept is closely similar to that of the original thrift store. These shops sell old products that customers no longer require but instead want to resell to others at considerable discounts from the actual retail price.
A large variety of specialty products are frequently available at consignment stores. Some of these secondhand shops, for instance, exclusively carry name-brand clothing, immaculate children's clothing, or high-quality furniture. The majority of the time, they are employed on a commission basis, with the seller of the items earning a portion of the sale. Thrift stores have created websites that let prospective consumers view their inventory online, making thrift shopping a virtual activity in recent years. The Association of Retail Professionals estimates that 16 to 18% of Americans visit thrifting stores each year.
In addition to local online thrift shops, consumers are sometimes astonished to learn that there are hundreds of national and international thrift stores to peruse online. It is common to hear celebrities like Tyra Banks and Angelina Jolie discuss purchasing used clothing from thrift stores.
Where did the idea of thrift shops come from?
One standard error is to believe that in the late 19th century, thrift shops were a strictly charitable effort of Christian missionary organizations. After all, the Salvation Army began collecting contributions for its first stores in 1897 with its "salvage brigade," allowing that organization to give food and lodging to the homeless men who wheeled carts along the street requesting unwanted items.
Beginning in Boston in 1902, Methodist outreach workers established what is now known as Goodwill, collecting used products while offering jobless employees to those needing low-cost labor.
As charitable as these missions may have appeared, they were actually a response to another phenomenon that Christian leaders noticed, according to Jennifer Le Zotte's article in The New England Quarterly's October 2017 issue.
Jews from Europe, particularly recent immigrants to America, struggled to find work. They collected and sold used goods while pulling carts through the streets of big cities in order to make money. These new residents earned a good living while being derided for their actions.
It's fascinating to observe how many of the social issues that exist now have parallels to the social problems that led to the growth of thrift stores around the turn of the 20th century.
The world's economies had been transformed by new technology both then and now, and advances in transportation allowed people to travel farther and faster than ever before. Additionally, international conflicts and shifting borders led to waves of immigrants arriving in America, though not always to a warm welcome. The thrift store has served as a flexible, practical, and ecologically sound solution to a variety of human needs both then and now.
What was the thrift shop first?
Bazaars for secondhand clothes were typical even in Elizabethan England. The Wolverhampton Association for the Blind in Staffordshire, England, was the first institution one would really consider a "charity store." People contributed used items to be sold, and the money raised went toward helping the blind.
As was mentioned, the Salvation Army started operating thrift stores in 1897. These thrift stores were so successful that by 1929, their sales accounted for half of the organization's revenue. By the 1920s, Goodwill, which opened its first charity stores seven years later, had a fleet of 1000 vehicles. The group was happy to take up used items from contributors' houses.
In 1947, Oxfam, a well-known organization supported by a network of charity shops, started operations in Oxford, England. The company presently has more than 700 locations in England alone. It is notably well-recognized for its specialty bookshops.
Consignment stores started to gain popularity in the 1950s as new synthetic textiles increased demand for new fabrics while also producing mountains of unsold, secondhand apparel. These shops allowed customers to purchase second hand items at marked-down costs in order to afford the most recent fashion trends.
When did thrift shops become popular?
This is a trick question. Once the industrial revolution made it feasible for mass manufacture of apparel, thrift stores were a concept whose time had come in the 1890s. Several historical events after the creation of the thrift store further increased the appeal of this kind of shopping.
Thrift shops have become more necessary and more widespread as a result of the severe economic hardships of the Great Depression and the subsequent Great Recession (which occurred 80 years later), the scarcity of raw materials during World Wars I and II, the abundance of new technology, and the rapidly changing nature of consumer goods starting in the 1950s with the growth of department stores.
Subsequently, the fast fashion sector started to create its products at a higher cost regarding the environment and ethics. Thrift stores opposed this tendency by offering a genuine contrast to the negative aspects of quick fashion. Nothing has contributed more significantly to online second-hand goods sales growth than the Internet out of all the elements influencing the popularity of thrifting and what it means to do it.
When is the national thrift shop day?
Anything that matters this much to our bank accounts and wardrobes deserves to have its own unique holiday. Indeed, saving money is a good idea. As a result, the 17th of August has been set aside each year as National Thrift Store Day in the USA.
We may not know how to commemorate Thrift Store Day, unlike other holidays like New Year's Eve and Thanksgiving, for which we clearly understand how to celebrate. Finding clean but unused goods in your home and taking them to a nearby resale outlet is the best option.
Every donation to a thrift store is a kind of recycling and, as a result, a contribution to environmental protection. Or, you may do your spare closet, cellar, attic, or storage shed a favor by putting your unwanted items in one of the numerous reputable Internet thrift stores.
What is the goal behind launching thrift shops?
Many would ask how thrift stores can help the community? Or in other words, they want to know what benefits does thrifting have? Thrift store shopping has various advantages, such as cost savings, decreased landfill trash, and support for your neighborhood. You may benefit the area and get excellent prices by contributing to a nearby nonprofit, cutting back on waste, making connections, and more. Secondhand shops benefit the community.
Reduces Waste
Also, reducing landfill trash is a thrift business. Even in fine shape, garments are regrettably frequently thrown aside. These outfits might not suit one person's style, but they might be the ideal choice for another. Browsing at thrift stores encourages consumers to choose used clothing rather than new ones, which generates more trash. So, we can tell that thrifting is a way of a zero waste lifestyle, which means you buy things in an eco-friendly manner.
Also, thrifting is beneficial to the environment. New clothing is produced using a tremendous quantity of water and energy. You may conserve water and energy by buying secondhand clothing, which decreases the demand for new clothing.
Supports Charity
The community can benefit from secondhand businesses' charity assistance in another manner. Most secondhand stores help the charity by giving money or purchasing their items. The American Red Cross, the Military Order of the Purple Heart Foundation, and the National Federation of the Blind are just a few of the charities we can mention.
Options for People of All Incomes
Thrift shops provide goods at inexpensive costs, making them accessible to shoppers of all financial levels. They make it possible for those with limited means to purchase high-quality goods that would otherwise be more expensive. Among them are clothing, furniture, home accents, toys, books, small appliances, and other products.
Create Connections
The thrift shop is an excellent location if you want to get to know your neighborhood. Every day, you can interact with strangers, coworkers, and other customers. For dates or a great day out with pals, thrifting is a cheap and delightful hobby.
Why is thrifting a way of sustainable living?
Consuming fashion feels like a double-edged sword, where one must choose between morality and money since fast fashion violates environmental and human rights for the sake of reduced prices. The solution to this issue in the twenty-first century is thrift shopping.
It makes sense that thrifting has gone digital, given the development of the internet and online purchasing together with current technology. That is what the startup software Depop from London does.
The program functions as a hybrid of social networking and eBay, letting every user operate as either a buyer or a vendor. The goal is to inexpensively shop for clothing without worrying about moral or environmental issues, like brick 7 mortar thrift shops. Wealth privilege in the thrifting community is increased by resellers' exclusive use of Depop.
Thrifting is a cultural concept that promotes ideals like affordability, sustainability, and consumer awareness while fighting against the fast fashion industry at its core. Although local Goodwill stores and other secondhand shops frequently uphold these principles, the online market has allowed internet merchants to affect the market in brick-and-mortar businesses.
Users may find a wide selection of used clothing on Depop by simply searching, most of which are affordable and suit their aesthetic. You could, however, discover a Fullmetal Alchemist t-shirt advertised for more than $200 after performing the same search. The exact same item may be located for $14 from a different vendor by using a reverse search on the item.
The 21st century's new thrifting principles may be summed up as a return to nature and the idea of discovering something new in the unfamiliar, two concepts that significantly benefit the world of fashion consumption. The exclusivity of modern thrifting has lost its roots; it previously served as a unifying force to help the average person grow and succeed via saving.
Although thrifting has been associated with many principles throughout history, it has always been seen as anti-establishment and for the ordinary man. This has been the case since the 1300s.
Thrift Shop Timeline
Modern society virtually takes it for granted that thrift shops are a terrific place to get deals on necessities, but historically, this wasn't the case. Contrary to popular belief, the concept of thrift stores is relatively new. We shouldn't forget about the early phases that led to the thrift stores you know and love today, even when the future for them appears bright. To find out how it all started, let's look at the history of thrift store shopping.
Rocky Beginnings
Purchasing used goods was considered embarrassing in the past, which is to say, near colonial times. It was believed that buying used clothing was not only impolite but unhealthy as well. Second hand sales were still taking place despite the negative perception they faced, but it would be sometime before the concept of a thrift store gained popularity.
The Industrial Revolution
The industrial revolution, which began in the late 19th century, saw a rapid increase in clothing production. One of the early advantages of the revolution was the mass manufacturing of clothing and the resulting decrease in pricing. Too much trash was produced due to consumers starting to view clothes as much more disposable. In order to utilize these materials rather than tossing them out, pawn shops and scrap yards began to spring up.
Legitimizing the Business
As religiously linked organizations began to use these secondhand things to aid the underprivileged and homeless, this way of thinking altered, even though buying secondhand was still seen as a sign of low income and status. Thrift shops enjoyed a fruitful start in the 20th century due to this. During the 1920s, purchasing used was no longer seen as something you did because you were poor but rather as a way to help your fellow man.
The Great Depression and Its Aftermath
At the onset of the Great Depression, the history of thrift store shopping underwent a significant upheaval. Thrift businesses at the time could not meet the demand for used goods because it was so high. Supply swiftly increased once again as a result of individuals wanting to show off their new affluence with newer products as soon as World War II finished and the nation's economy improved.
Vintage Becomes the Trend
It's not as contemporary as you may believe to want to shop at vintage shops for products. Several individuals began visiting secondhand shops in quest of antique couture goods as early as the 1950s. Thrift stores have continued to thrive into the twenty-first century because of the tendency to discover something lovely from the past.
It’s Never Been Easier
With the advent of the Internet, purchasing used items from thrift stores has become much more straightforward. The need for reasonably priced apparel and household products has remained strong, and we stand amidst it. All you have to do is find the right clothes and don't forget to wash your thrifted clothes before wearing them.
Last but not Least…
Shoppers in the twenty-first century don't even need to leave their houses anymore because of websites like The RealReal and thredUP, where they can explore and purchase designer consignments and used items. According to an IBISWorld Industry survey, businesses creating for-profit thrift stores increased as individuals needed cheaper clothing alternatives in the years after the global financial crisis of 2008. It was thought that the success of Macklemore's song "Thrift Shop" at the top of the 2013 Billboard Hot 100 was a reflection of the increased foot traffic.
According to a survey on the market's current situation by IBISWorld, thrift stores are currently a $14.4 billion sector. Furthermore, the thrift-shop business model will stay in style for a while since research on consumer preferences indicate that millennials want to do business with enterprises that support charity.
