Conscious thrifting is a sustainable way to shop for sustainable fashion, without participating directly in fast fashion. Thrift shopping is a wonderful way to purchase clothing, furniture, and many other needs, while making an environmentally friendly choice. When thrifting, you’re choosing to give life again to an item that would otherwise not be used, while also likely saving money and supporting a good cause.
Thrifting and purchasing sustainable fashion and goods helps reduce, reuse and recycle while also providing you with numerous other benefits. Why be a conscious thrifter? Here are a few reasons to get started today!
Conserve Water
Certain fabrics, such as polyester, stay intact and do not decompose in water. These fabrics, commonly found in fast fashion, can be damaging to wildlife in the ocean. In addition, in order for one new cotton t-shirt to be made, it can take over 650 gallons of water. By purchasing second-hand clothing and participating in the process of purchasing sustainable fashion, you help make a conscious effort to reduce that water footprint and reduce the amount of unsafe materials that end up in the ocean.
Find Vintage and Unique Pieces
When thrifting you are likely to find incredibly unique and vintage pieces – without doing too much damage to your wallet. Habitat ReStores carry a wide variety of brands including Cleo, Eddie Bauer, Tanjay, Allia, Jones New York, Anne Taylor and more! There are so many one-of-a-kind items that are sold at thrift stores, that are difficult to find in other places, or are sold for an incredibly expensive price. If you’re someone who enjoys having quirky or eccentric furniture or clothing, look no further than your local Habitat ReStore.
Unleash Your Inner Artist
One of the best parts of thrift shopping is to see the potential of items and revive them. You can take a dresser and by adding some paint, or new knobs, you’ve got an original, one of a kind piece that you can either keep or even resell! DIY projects are a fantastic way to reduce environmental footprint and reuse quality items and repurpose them.
Save Money
When you make the choice to thrift, you are likely saving money, while also shopping for products that will last you a long time. Instead of breaking the bank for fast fashion/items that you may end up tossing out in a few months, be a conscious thrifter and purchase sustainable fashion/goods, not only for the environment but also for your wallet! 
Support a Good Cause
Often when you shop sustainably, you not only cut back on fast fashion, but you can also help support a great cause depending on the thrift store. At Habitat for Humanity ReStores, 100% of the proceeds go directly back into helping build safe and affordable housing for families in need. Habitat ReStores have locations in Burlington, Milton, Mississauga and Orangeville. Before heading out to thrift, make a decision to research the store you are supporting. That way, you can not only shop sustainable fashion and goods, but also help support a cause that you care about!
About Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga-Dufferin ReStores
The Habitat HMD ReStore is an amazing place to shop for unique furniture, antiques, appliances, used kitchens, paintings, home décor, doors and more. The Habitat HMD ReStore has locations in the Halton Region (Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville), Mississauga and Dufferin county (Amaranth, East Garafraxa, Grand Valley, Melancthon, Mono, Mulmur, Orangeville, Shelburne). Every visit to the ReStore is different, and every purchase helps support our home building projects in our community.
About Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga-Dufferin
Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga-Dufferin is a proud member of our national organization Habitat Canada and is one of 50 local Habitat affiliates across our country. Habitat for Humanity brings communities together to help families build strength, stability, and independence through affordable home ownership. We provide a solid foundation for better, healthier lives in Canada and around the world. You can find out more about Habitat Canada at https://habitathmd.ca/.