Old Clothes, Booming A New Generation Loves Thrift Shopping

Thrift shopping is back in fashion. For a new generation of consumers, it’s about the fun of hunting for treasures — and finding bargains in an economy gripped by inflation. “Secondhand fashion is booming, and that’s for I would say three key reasons: value, variety and also sustainability,” said Taylor Bowley, an economist at Bank of America Institute. Transactions are up 22% from a year ago, according to a new report from Bank of America. The foot traffic site Placer.ai found thrift shops are now outperforming stores that sell new items. While visits to traditional apparel retailers dropped from late 2022 to late 2025, visits to thrift stores soared more than 25%.

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Secondhand apparel in the U.S. has grown into an approximately $56 billion market, doubling from 2020 to 2025, according to a new report from the online consignment and thrift store ThredUp. Younger shoppers are driving the trend: ThredUp’s report found 62% of Gen Z shopped secondhand last year. What’s old is new again — and it’s not just secondhand clothing. Vinyl, film cameras and knitting are all trendy again as younger generations embrace old-school tech, fashions and hobbies while also prioritizing quality and sustainability.

Source: NBC News