Hazel Verbo
Gen Z Balances Sustainable Thrift Haul
Are we seeing an #eco-style revolution? Earth-conscious young adults and youths have been busy throughout the pandemic, exploring style hacks to look fashionable but stay environmentally wise.

They’ve helped drive the increase of clothing resale platforms, namely Vinted and Depop, in addition to rental apps like Hurr and ByRotation.
You’ll be able to see this tradition of 'cool' sustainability rising on TikTok. Instead of displaying fast-fashion purchases from Zara, ASOS, or H&M, customers are making #sustainable #choices with hauls from thrift outlets, tapping into streetwear, and Y2K developments.

Younger influencers have every kind of suggestion for finding out how to give previous garments a makeover. Gathering millions of views, there’s a mass amount of customisation recommendation and #DIY (do-it-yourself) tutorials to be found on Youtube. While arts and crafts like knitting and crochet are becoming trendy once more, rebranded as craft core.
However, for all this hype about recycling, is Gen Z, the group most worried about the planet, actually going to turn the established style trade on its head? Though there are indicators of sustainable habits taking over, this #transformation will probably need the help of modern technology.
Style is usually seen as insignificant, with good reason: The $1.5 trillion international fashion market is among the world’s most environmentally damaging industries. Carbon emissions, water consumption, pollution, and the exploitation of workers are just some sides of fashion’s ugly aspect. With these factors largely fueled by the mass manufacturing of quick style. From this, manufacturers and shoppers should look at making larger adjustments in what they produce and purchase, if we wish to protect the well-being of the #planet.
And while #thrifthaul and #knitting have a not-insignificant 456 million and 478 million views respectively on TikTok, #Sheinhaul — wherein customers showcase purchases from the ultra-cheap, ultra-fast style retailer SHEIN — has 2.3 billion. Quick style continues to produce gross sales and recognition.
Creating A Sustainable & Higher Quality Wardrobe
The disconnect between what younger shoppers say they need and what they purchase seemingly comes from #online #stress. In a world pushed by a thirst for brand new content material — and outfits — sustainable consumption becomes trickier, particularly for a generation raised on social media. Even being a sustainable influencer is a conflict-filled endeavour.

The excellent news is that Gen Z remains to be #selective towards sustainable habits — even though the current economic atmosphere is not in their favour. As yonger adults aren’t too tight with their money when it comes to investing in sustainable pieces. However, to satisfy their want for recent fashion trends and elegant clothing, they’re attempting to create more with less. For instance: customising items to add worth, making garments they’ll love themselves, reaching for cheaper second-hand clothes or generating some side income by selling items they do not need.
Paying A Premium
There are indicators that the penny is dropping. Out of all of the generations, Gen Z is probably the most likely to pay a premium for sustainable garments. For example, they are content to pay a steeper value for a basic white cotton t-shirt if it’s (simply) made sustainably.

The upside, is that Gen Z are focused on finding out how to get extra usage from the clothes they buy. With platforms like Depop and Vinted extending the lifecycle of £20 attire and £5 bikinis by keeping them in #circulation for longer, lowering the volume of clothes that would have ended up in the landfill.
Nonetheless, there is progress to be made to make fashion a planet- and people-friendly trade, however Gen Z is heading in the right direction.