Many of these images also feature photos people took during their visits to thrift stores, which is apparently a booming business in the United States. According to Worldmetric statistics, the resale industry made $17 billion in sales revenue in 2019, its best year so far. Experts project these numbers to jump to $77 billion by 2025. 

But why are thrift stores so popular? According to 62% of shoppers, it’s about the possibility of finding something “unique and antique.” They are excited by the idea of discovering something one-of-a-kind and, if they’re lucky, with a colorful history.

Some people, like TikTok influencer Bridget Brown, shop in thrift shops for sustainability reasons. As she told WhoWhatWear.com, it’s her way of lowering her carbon footprint. 

“Thrifting has also been a huge inspiration to me when it comes to fashion—being able to shop for unique pieces that don’t necessarily fit in with the current ‘trends,’” Brown said, adding she shops “80% second hand” and “20% new.”

Not everyone is a fan of buying pre-worn shoes. Brown, however, prefers it to be the case because they no longer need breaking in. She usually shops for shoes and bags together. 

“To some, buying used shoes can seem icky, which is understandable, but the nice thing about buying used shoes is that they are most likely already broken in and stretched out, which makes life so much easier. Bags are also great to look for at the thrift. There are always super-fun and unique styles that are great to elevate any outfit."

Many of you readers are probably rookies when it comes to thrift stores, so here’s some of Brown’s advice. Her very first tip: be patient. 

“The thrift store can be overwhelming and disorganized, so if you’re not patient, you probably won’t enjoy yourself.”

Being a first-time thrift store visitor could already be daunting, and there’s the added challenge of shopping alone. Brown says it’s best to dump everything that catches your eye into the cart and then sort later. 

“A big thing, especially when thrifting alone and not having a second opinion, is sometimes not knowing if something is cool and unique or just straight-up ugly. I will put anything in my cart or basket that catches my eye, and over the course of my shopping, I will go through the cart and look everything over.”

Shopping for sustainability is a big thing among Gen Zs today. 26-year-old Clarissa Whiting shared her motivation for thrift shopping with the Columbus Dispatch.

“If ever I need something, I usually will go to the thrift store. It’s really cheap and I like how environmentally friendly it is because you’re just reusing something instead of purchasing a new product.”

But despite the lucrative returns and support from the younger generation, the resale industry has its critics. Longtime thrifter Tina Koeppe spoke to the New York Times in 2022, expressing her disappointment, stating, “There’s just less and less desirable items.”

“I’d go into thrift stores thinking I could find a few things for my wardrobe or for my family, and it would just be absolute, you know, garbage on the racks. Like stained fast-fashion clothes that nobody wants."