Gentrification is no stranger in this day and age. When something becomes popular or ‘trendy’, the wealthy move in and the prices go up. Whereas 20 years ago second hand shopping would have been sniffed at as something only those who cannot afford better are forced to do, nowadays the popularity of finding that bargain, that unique ‘vintage’ item, has made second hand shops into an opportunity to make money.
Depop is probably the most obvious example of this, providing extravagant prices for ‘the Y2K look’. The commercialised need to achieve the 'Pinterest girl' outfit of genuine vintage pieces has been compounded into the sale of a £20 My Little Pony t-shirt. And whilst there is nothing wrong with this, for an item of second hand clothing that is meant to offer a cheaper alternative to main stream shops, £20 is not quite it.
Even Vinted is slowly succumbing to the carefully crafted accounts of exclusively expensive second-hand clothing. Although both these platforms do allow people to make money off of their own old clothes, establishing a means for people to shop and sell sustainably, it has instead contributed to a rise in price, making it more difficult to actually find the affordable clothing.
One space that still remains true to its purpose of cheap and interesting finds is charity shops.
This is also reflected in the rise of ‘vintage’ shops popping up left, right, and centre, charging extortionate rates for cropped Ralph Lauren polo tops. The gentrification has happened. Although it could be argued as simply reflecting a wider trend of trying to shop more sustainably, the rising prices cannot be ignored. One space that still remains true to its purpose of cheap and interesting finds is charity shops. Prices have gone up for these too, but not at the extortionate rate of ‘vintage’ stores. Perhaps a way to combat the gentrification, charity shops are a sustainable way to shop second hand. Finding the cuter clothes might be more of a challenge than with the curated second hand ‘experience’, but the hunt is what it’s all about. What’s second hand shopping without a bit of trial and error anyway?