For fourth-year University of Georgia student Kennedy Fulton, thrifting used to be about saving money.
Now, it’s about something bigger.
“I first started thrifting back in middle school for affordability reasons, but now it is more about sustainability,” Fulton said. “Most clothes today are cheaply made in sweatshops, and I would rather reuse what is already out there.”
Across campus, more students like Fulton are turning to secondhand clothing as a way to push back against the environmental cost of fast fashion. Fast fashion refers to the rapid production of inexpensive clothing that follows quick-changing trends, often made with cheap materials and labor.
The process contributes to pollution and textile waste that harms the environment. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the fashion industry accounts for about 10 percent of global carbon emissions, more than international flights and shipping combined. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 11 million tons of textiles end up in U.S. landfills each year.
Fashion Revolution, a global advocacy movement founded in 2013 after the Rana Plaza factory collapse, promotes sustainability and transparency in the fashion industry. The organization encourages actions like clothing swaps to cut down on textile waste and pollution, calling it “one of the most environmentally friendly ways to reduce waste, contribute less to the increasing accumulation of toxic chemicals in the environment, and upgrade your wardrobe without spending a penny.”
One campus response has been the Swap Shop, a free clothing exchange where students can donate and pick up clothes. The shop has grown in inventory and visibility, but it still faces challenges in becoming a regular stop for students.
“We definitely have more items than when it first started,” said UGA student Ivan Ajman, who works with the Swap Shop. “We have clothes, of course, but also jewelry, water bottles and even textbooks. The Instagram page has helped more people find out about it.”
Since it opened in 2022, the Swap Shop has helped divert more than 2,000 items from landfills, according to student organizers. Each semester, dozens of students donate clothing and other goods, creating a local cycle of reuse that reduces waste. Ajman said the Swap Shop has also started tabling at local events such as the Athens Farmers Market and Sustainability Fest to boost awareness. Partnerships with groups, including the Professional Clothing Closet and Student Government Association, are also helping expand its reach.
Even with those efforts, some students still see Goodwill or other thrift stores as more convenient.
“I have seen the Swap Shop on campus, but it is not the first place I think of when I am donating,” Fulton said. “I only see it a couple of times, and it is not really at the forefront of my mind.”
Ajman believes visibility is key.
“I think overall we want more students to be aware of it,” he said.
More students being aware of it will bring more stuff in, and then more goes out. It is the cycle of sustainability.”
For students, thrifting continues to be about both style and impact.
“Most of my closet helps the environment in some way,” Fulton said. “Even if not everyone thrifts yet, more people are becoming aware of its impact.”
Joyce Bell is a senior majoring in journalism.
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