Walking around the OHS halls is like attending a free New York Fashion Week with all of the different styles popping in and out. Recently, many students have found that the best way to fulfill these new style expectations is to shop at secondhand or thrift stores. As the trend of buying clothing from thrift stores continues to rise among teenagers, secondhand clothing businesses are taking the opportunity to gain more customers. In the Norterra area alone, there is a Goodwill, 2nd Street, and a brand-new addition, Plato’s Closet.
With Plato’s Closet’s unique features, such as the opportunity to sell one’s own clothes or commonly find name-brand clothing, teenagers have the opportunity to refresh their closets with new looks.
“People love to shop at Goodwill, but we sell Lulu[lemon] and Alo for cheaper prices, and it’s really good quality,” said Charlianna Tramontozzi, junior and Plato’s Closet employee.
Plato’s Closet and other thrift stores are closer to OHS compared to other retail clothing stores, like Urban Outfitters and Pacsun, that cater to teens looking to hop on the latest micro-trends, allowing teenagers to practice more sustainable shopping habits.
“I think that thrifting is starting to get gentrified. The community is starting to embrace it, and I think it’s a good thing because it’s stopping people from doing fast fashion and stuff like that,” said Quinn Robison, senior.
Another advantage to thrifting, besides the sustainability that comes with it, is that it helps teenagers practice better spending habits.
“Thrifting is convenient because it provides cheaper options for people who might not be able to afford $60 jeans every year,” said Cole Flores, sophomore.
Secondhand shops offering cheaper options does not necessarily equate to universally worse options.
“You can usually find a good collection of clothes from a thrift store compared to Nordstrom Rack or Tillys,” Flores said.
While retail stores such as those listed have newer clothing, some students appreciate the more vintage vibe that some secondhand clothing has to it.
“I like that the older stuff has a better quality to it. I like the rush of getting something good,” Robison said.
With OHS students starting to appreciate these new shopping practices, Plato’s Closet is starting to see the impact of thrifting as it becomes increasingly popular.
“We’ll see some [students] mess around. Some get a bunch of clothes. They’re like, ‘I never thought I would have found all this stuff at Plato’s,’” Tramontozzi said.
