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The average American owns 136 pieces of clothing but only wears 20% of them?That means over 100 pieces are sitting unused, taking up space, and eventually ending up in landfills.
And it’s not just a individual problem—it’s a global crisis. Since 2000, clothing production has doubled, but we wear our clothes less than ever. The fashion industry is now the second-largest polluter on the planet—right behind oil.
That’s why I decided to audit my closet, take inventory of what I actually wear, and donate the rest. This simple step not only decluttered my space but also helped break the cycle of overconsumption.
Why I Switched to Thrifting
Growing up, my mom took my brother and me thrifting. At the time, I didn’t love it, I wanted the “cool” brands that everyone else had. But looking back, I realize she was teaching me something far more valuable:
How to find quality in secondhand clothing.
How to appreciate reuse instead of waste.
How to shop intentionally, not impulsively.
In high school and college, I started to only buy clothes from thrifting. It became like a game to put together the best outfit for as cheap as possible.
Thrifting isn’t just about saving money (although that is a great perk). It’s about:
✅ Reducing waste – Keeping clothes out of landfills.
✅ Getting better quality – Older clothes were made to last.
✅ Fighting fast fashion – Avoiding cheaply made, mass-produced items.
My Closet Audit: What I Found
When I decided to audit my closet, I was shocked at how much I had accumulated.
In total I had 160 pieces of clothing
76 were thrifted
38 were bought new
46 were gifted or handed down
Even with my commitment to thrifting I had not been able to escape the fashion trend of overconsumption.
That’s when I realized: thrifting isn’t just about buying secondhand—it’s also about keeping the cycle going. I needed to donate what I wasn’t wearing, allowing those clothes to have a second (or third) life with someone else.
Why Thrifting is the Best Way to Shop
Thrifting isn’t just a budget hack—it’s a better way to shop for three key reasons:
1️⃣ It’s More Sustainable
Fast fashion brands pump out new collections weekly, using cheap materials and unethical labor. These clothes aren’t made to last. Thrifting reduces demand for new production and keeps clothes in circulation.
2️⃣ It’s Cheaper
Why spend $50-$100 on a brand-new jacket when you can find a high-quality thrifted one for $10? Many secondhand clothes are barely worn, yet sell for a fraction of the original price.
3️⃣ It’s Better Quality
Older clothes were made to last. Compare a vintage denim jacket to something from a fast fashion brand—you’ll feel the difference. When you thrift, you’re more likely to find durable, well-made items.
The Thrifting Cycle: Shop, Wear, Return
Clothing lasts far longer than we often realize. A jacket can stay in great condition for over a decade, but if it’s left unworn in a closet, it’s simply wasted potential. The key is to keep clothes in circulation—wearing, repurposing, or donating them—so they don’t contribute to the 92 million tons of textile waste that end up in landfills each year, much of it discarded after just a few wears.
Shopping secondhand allows you to choose quality over quantity, ensuring your wardrobe lasts longer. Wearing what you already own maximizes the life of your clothes, reducing the need for constant replacements. And when you no longer wear something, donating it gives it a second life with someone else instead of letting it collect dust or end up in a landfill. After going through my closet, I set aside a big pile of clothes in great condition that I barely wore. Rather than letting them sit unused, I donated them, allowing someone else to make use of them while keeping the cycle going.
Final Thoughts
Moving forward, I’m committing to being more intentional with my choices. Overconsumption doesn’t make us happier, and it contributes to a massive global problem of waste and environmental damage.
If you want to make a change, start with a simple step: try a closet audit and see what you actually wear—then donate what you don’t. The next time you shop, consider thrifting instead for better quality at a lower cost. Small choices like these add up, helping to reduce waste and make more sustainable shopping habits the norm.
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