NEWS & CSR

Thrifting: Eco-Friendly Solution or Emerging Problem?

30 Nov 2025 | News Category: -

Every time you come across a “thrift haul” or discover a unique vintage jacket at a bargain price, it’s easy to feel like you’re making a sustainable choice.
We completely understand the appeal — but the question remains: is thrifting truly helping the environment, or is it quietly creating new problems we often fail to see?

Definition & Trends

Thrifting originally referred to shopping at charity or thrift stores, but today the term covers all forms of secondhand clothing — vintage, preloved, and even used fast-fashion items.
In Indonesia, this trend has grown rapidly as part of sustainable consumption and the circular economy.

Commonly Highlighted Benefits

Reduces textile waste by extending product life.
Minimizes demand for new production, saving water, energy, and resources.
Supports the circular economy through reuse instead of disposal.

Hidden Problems Behind Thrifting

Overconsumption

According to Project CeCe, thrifting has begun mirroring fast fashion habits: mass buying driven by trends rather than actual need. This creates a cycle of unconscious consumption — thrifted fast fashion is still fast fashion.

Waste Colonialism

Only around 20% of donated clothing is sold in charity shops. The rest is exported to Global South countries, often in poor condition, effectively shifting waste burdens elsewhere.

Thrifting Gentrification

Because thrifting has become trendy, prices have risen. Lower-income communities who once relied on secondhand stores now struggle to access affordable clothing.

Dominance of Fast Fashion

A large portion of thrifted clothing originates from brands like SHEIN, Zara, and H&M, meaning the fast-fashion cycle continues even in secondhand markets.

Local Impact in Indonesia

Regulations & Economic Effects

Illegal imports of secondhand clothing harm local textile MSMEs, as consumers opt for cheaper imported items over domestic products.

Environmental Impact

Studies from ITB show that textile waste — including discarded or unsellable thrifted clothing — significantly contributes to landfill volume, increasing environmental pressure.

Thrifting offers meaningful alternatives to textile waste and overproduction, but it is not a perfect solution. Overconsumption, waste exports, and rising prices present real challenges.

To make thrifting genuinely sustainable, you, we, and the industry must shift from “cheap and trendy” to “mindful, selective, and responsible.”

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