A lot of people have been queuing up to get back into the high street, fast fashion shops already, clearly desperate for that ‘retail therapy’ fix they went without for a few months. But what about those of us who try to stick to thrift stores, charity shops and vintage places? 

Today is Thrift Shop Day so I figured I’d run down some thoughts about thrifting during a pandemic and some tips you might find useful…

Is it safe to shop in thrift stores or charity shops?

I briefly went into my local charity shop recently to test the waters and try and gauge what the atmosphere would be like for a thrift session, and I was actually pleasantly surprised. It felt really calm and sensible, and it reassured me that when I was next up for a shopping day I could come here without any stress (obviously I can’t speak for all experiences!) 

While it can be tricky to keep to 1-2 metres distance in a charity shop as they’re often fairly cramped, try your best to be respectful of other people’s space and protect your own. Wearing a face mask for a long time can be uncomfortable, as it often takes a while to find what you want, so opt for a mask you know you can breathe well in. 

You could also wear gloves during your thrift, although the World Health Organisation says that this isn’t a proven prevention method. 

Remember the staff in charity shops are likely to be volunteers so please treat them with respect (as I’d hope you would anyway) and allow for extra wait times when they’re busy.

Think first, buy later

It’s also important to remember that while shopping secondhand is the better alternative to buying new or fast fashion clothes, it’s still worth asking yourself if you really need this extra piece of clothing. If you have something similar or you’re just buying it on a whim, it’s probably best to leave it for someone else who might actually really want it? Remember, the most sustainable clothes are the ones already hanging in your wardrobe!

Wash it (real good)

As we normally do when buying secondhand clothing, you will need to give anything you buy a really good wash before wearing. If you don’t want to wash at a higher temperature than 30 degrees, for the environment’s sake, you could run the clothes through the tumble dryer afterwards which should kill off all (if any) germs, and wash your hands after handling the clothes at all stages. Wipe down any accessories or footwear with antibacterial spray and a cloth too. (Top tip: you can also use activated charcoal to eliminate any nasty smells).

Here’s a link to more information about whether the virus can live on clothing. 

Other ways to get cheap, sustainable fashion

You may find that actually you don’t feel comfortable hitting the thrift stores just yet, and that’s cool, there are loads of other ways to enjoy secondhand shopping. 

Here are some ideas of how to thrift responsibly during a pandemic:

• Organise a socially distanced (or even online) clothes swap 

• Browse through Depop, Vinted, eBay, ASOS Marketplace, and Oxfam online to find secondhand clothes, footwear and accessories (just remember to wash anything that you order when it arrives)

• Ask your friends/family if they have any clothes that they want to get rid of and see if you can make some trades

• If you have a specific item you’re looking for, use your social media to ask if anyone has what you’re looking for, you can offer money or make some kind of swap with them

Charity shops are at breaking points

Over the lockdown many of us took the chance to have a good old clear out of our wardrobes and really evaluate what we already have. While this is great, the result has been an overwhelming amount of clothes being donated to charity shops, to the point where they are turning people away. I tried to take in two bags of clothes and some odd bits into my local charity shop and was told they were at capacity for the day and I’d have to come back again tomorrow. I even tried another one on my high street and was told the same thing. 

When UK charity shops have unsold stock it’s often shipped to other countries, such as Poland, Ghana and Pakistan. Wrap estimates that more than 70% of all UK reused clothing heads overseas - joining a global second-hand trade in which billions of old garments are bought and sold around the world every year (source).

Have a think about other ways you can get rid of unwanted clothes, is there another option for passing them on until charity shops have recovered from the surge? Could you sell them on Depop? Give them to a friend? Or maybe have a go at up-cycling something?

Hope you found this post useful, and remember to thrift responsibly!