Finding fashion of quality at the right price

Gifts that can help the environment

By Adriana Serafino | Manor Ink

Sullivan County, NY – Now that the holiday season is upon us, it’s a great time to think about buying second hand. You can buy loved ones’ special gifts at consignment stores and thrift shops and not only will you save money, you will also be helping the environment. Here’s how.

A consignment shop in Jeffersonville called The Vintage House makes it its mission to give beautiful old things a new home and a new life. Shoppers who visit the shop will find all kinds of unique vintage items, gifts not only of lasting quality but items that can help cut down on fast fashion purchases.

Have you heard of “fast fashion”? Most people have, but might not realize it. Fast fashion apparel is produced by many of the big brands including Shein, Forever 21, H&M, Temu, Gap and others.

These companies try to make clothing that is trending right now, but most of these trends don’t even last a single season. As a result, fast fashion creates problems that affect all of us. The products’ cheap prices lure people into buying them, but their true cost is being paid in many other ways.

One of the biggest expenses incurred by fast fashion comes from landfills that are filling up with unusable clothing. These clothes are often made so poorly, they end up in dumps rather than being sold or given to other people. The problem is worsened when these giant landfills destroy wildlife habitat.

Other problems with cheap clothes

Even if fast fashion clothes are donated to charities, problems can ensue. Recently thrift stores have become saturated with fast fashion. The problem is people don’t want used clothes that are poorly made, ripped, frayed or discolored.

The thrift stores are now dealing with this crisis. They often aren’t able to handle all the donations they receive of poorly made clothing that doesn’t sell. Shop owners often need to work harder to find clothing that is still wearable and will appeal to their customers.

Luckily, though, it is in thrift and consignment stores that gift buyers can find used quality clothing that has lasted decades, and not just one summer season. Buying clothing from thrift stores is wonderful as you can help local businesses while investing in clothing that will last a long time.

“I’m not a fan of fast fashion at all. It’s not good for the planet and the clothes are not interesting or well made,” said Lauren Seikaly, owner of The Vintage House. “I wish people would thrift instead.”

There are a number of second-hand shops in Sullivan County that repurpose quality clothing as well as many other useful items. Here re a few.

• The Vintage House, 4910 Main St., Jeffersonville; Thursday, Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; vintagehousejville.com

• Saving Grace Thrift Shop, 4 Obernburg Rd., North Branch; Wednesday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; 845-482-3032

• Village Thrift, 12 North Rd., Bloomingburg; Thursday through Monday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 845-326-6774

• St. Paul’s Mission Thrift Shop, 4042 Rte. 52, Youngsville; Wednesday, Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; 845-482-5760

Clothing that makes a difference

If you have clothing you no longer wear but is well made and in good condition, many thrift shops would happily take those garments. Shoppers searching for that perfect gift item might just find it in one of your donations.

There are so many benefits from going thrifting, like finding affordable clothing and unique items. If people start buying the majority of their clothing second-hand, then we as a society can make a difference by helping the environment, and future generations can enjoy the holidays without dealing with ever more mountains of fast fashion clothing.