9 Reasons You Should Stop Buying New Clothes

Advertising Disclosure: When you buy something by clicking links on our site, we may earn a small commission, but it never affects the products or services we recommend.

happy woman buying clothes
Daniel M Ernst / Shutterstock.com

I’ve always wondered why buying used clothing isn’t more mainstream. Though Gen Z is embracing all things vintage, many people in my peer group (let’s call it “late middle age”) seem surprised at the thought. I’m not sure why. After all, didn’t the movie “Pretty in Pink” show us all how cool secondhand can be?

If you’re curious but noncommittal about buying used clothes, give me a chance to change your mind. After 30 years of buying and selling (and wearing) secondhand fashion, I’ve compiled a long list of benefits. Here are the most important.

1. Used clothes are tried and true

Vintage clothing at a thrift shop
Anna Svetlova / Shutterstock.com

When you buy something new, you’re taking a gamble. Will these jeans hold up over time? Will this sweater start to pill after the third wash?

In contrast, used clothes are tried and true. Everything on the rack is pre-shrunk, broken-in and stress-tested by life. Who needs a better guarantee than that?

2. It’s a powerful environmental move

walk
stefanolunardi / Shutterstock.com

The rise of “fast fashion” — clothing produced quickly and cheaply to capitalize on style trends — contributes to profound environmental problems. As Greenpeace reports, this type of clothing isn’t meant to last, be repaired or be repurposed.

As a result, the industry is responsible for staggering levels of textile waste (92 million tons a year, by some estimates). Discarded and unsold garments are shipped to poor countries in East and West Africa — regions that are ill-equipped to manage it.

Choosing high-quality used clothing reduces the demand for new. Every consumer that steps away from the fast-fashion cycle helps put an end to its devastating effects.

3. Buying used is budget-friendly

Man with cash in his pocket
Roman Samborskyi / Shutterstock.com

According to Vogue, the markup on retail clothing ranges from 2.2 to 2.5 times the wholesale price. For example, a cardigan that cost $60 wholesale will be priced between $132 and $150 on the retail rack.

But when you buy secondhand, someone else has already paid that steep initial markup. And in most cases, the thrift store price for that same cardigan will be substantially less than the original wholesale price. Who can beat a deal like that?

4. It supports worthy causes

SpeedKingz / Shutterstock.com

Most thrift stores are extensions of charitable organizations. Revenue from the sale of used goods helps fund services like job training, medical research and homeless outreach.

Even when you buy used clothes online or at rummage sales, the money goes directly to people instead of corporations. Sorry, H&M shareholders, but that sounds like a better investment.

5. It might be tax-free

Woman in a thrift store or charity store
SpeedKingz / Shutterstock.com

Depending on where you live, goods purchased from qualified nonprofit organizations may be exempt from sales tax. But the details can be tricky. I live in Iowa, and our state tax code stipulates that thrift stores are sales-tax exempt if:

“Net proceeds are expended for educational, religious, or charitable purposes; and the organization selling or receiving the profits is exempt from income tax pursuant to IRC 501(c)(3).”

Sadly, there’s no single resource to help consumers navigate the complex web of state sales-tax laws.

6. It’s easier to create a distinct style

SpeedKingz / Shutterstock.com

The older I get, the less I want to look like everyone else. Buying used gives me the chance to flex my creative muscles and find unique items that set my look apart.

If you’re new to secondhand shopping, do a little experimenting. Mix a few vintage items with new to cultivate an entirely original style.

7. Reselling used clothes can be profitable

Woman selling old clothes online
Roman Samborskyi / Shutterstock.com

Business is booming in the world of resale. According to Statista, the 2022 global market value of resale apparel was an estimated $177 billion. Even some retailers are dabbling in the resale market. An installment in the series “If You Find This Thrift Shopping, Buy It” explores Patagonia’s investment in Worn Wear.

Claim a chunk of that $177 billion for yourself. Reselling high-quality secondhand clothing on eBay, ThredUp or Etsy is a great side hustle.

8. Vintage clothing is often better-made

Vintage retro clothes clothing
Marbury / Shutterstock.com

For those of us not shopping at top-tier designer stores, quality clothing is getting harder to find. Fast fashion seems to have lowered apparel standards and, in turn, lowered consumer expectations.

But buying used turns back the clock and gives us access to clothing that was made years — sometimes decades — ago. Generally speaking, vintage garments are constructed better and made with higher-grade materials than their modern counterparts.

See also:11 Secrets To Finding Quality Clothing at Thrift Shops

9. You can find exclusive brands

A woman shops for clothing
Cabeca de Marmore / Shutterstock.com

Every once in a while, high-end apparel finds its way onto thrift store racks. I’ve purchased vintage pieces by Hermes, Missoni, Fendi, Comme des Garcons and Loro Piana.

Would I normally pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to access this level of sartorial style? No. Will I pay $4.99-$9.99 for a hidden gem? You betcha.

Get smarter with your money!

Want the best money-news and tips to help you make more and spend less? Then sign up for the free Money Talks Newsletter to receive daily updates of personal finance news and advice, delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for our free newsletter today.