Here’s a conversation starter: How many pounds of clothing does the average American throw out annually? According to Material Circular Economy, a sustainable materials journal, it’s 82 pounds.
In 2018 alone, 14.5 million tons of textiles in the U.S. were burned or added to landfills, mostly clothing, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The amount is only rising. Clothing waste isn’t just an American issue. Around the world, we are drowning in old T-shirts, jeans and fast fashions. Countries, including ours, ship unwanted clothes to poorer areas, many in Africa, which often create textile towers clogging their land and waterways. In Ghana, this waste is called obroni wawu, meaning “dead white man’s clothes,” according to Greenpeace.
Textile overconsumption hurts our wallets and our planet. The U.S. EPA recommends several possible solutions: buy less, buy only what you need and give unwanted clothes to charities or secondhand stores. You can also fix or upcycle old clothes – turning them into something new by adding a lace collar to an old shirt, for instance.
Some Springfield area-residents have already discovered the benefits that come with buying used clothing.
“I realized that it didn’t make sense to buy new clothes when there’s clothing out there that’s in good shape, is more affordable and would otherwise be thrown into the garbage or burned,” said Mary Young of Springfield. She estimates that 90% of her wardrobe is secondhand. “You can easily save 70% percent or more on costs by buying secondhand, and you never know what you’ll find.”
Young signed up for email alerts from Clothes Mentor and Plato’s Closet, area stores she frequents, so she learns about upcoming sales in advance.
“Some people ask, ‘You’d wear someone else’s shoes?'” Young said. “I’ll clean (the pre-owned shoes), I’ll sterilize them, I’ll put inserts in.” She washes all used clothes she buys before wearing and recommends washing them multiples times “if it will make you feel better.” In addition, she doesn’t buy “intimate” used clothing items like underwear or athletic wear.
Used clothing fans say buying secondhand also lets you afford brands and materials you couldn’t otherwise. Some like the thrill of hunting and finding great pieces. If you have kids, it’s easy to find unworn or barely worn clothes for them at area garage sales and secondhand stores.
“It’s more fun to look through unique, individual pieces of clothing (at secondhand shops) rather than shopping at big company stores that try to constantly cater to what’s trending,” said Springfield resident Dorothy Patton. “You’ll be surprised how many more options there are, how much less stress it is and how much you can save.”
During her engagement she bought several previously worn outfits for engagement pictures, bridal showers and bachelorette trips from thrifting apps, secondhand stores and Facebook buy/sell groups.
“Especially for brides, there’s so much out there that may have only been worn once or not at all,” Patton said.
“Go into secondhand stores with an open mind,” said Claire Gordon, of Chatham. “If you go looking for something specific, you may not find it.”
She shops at the Clothing Rack in Sherman where she takes clothes she no longer wants and gets credits when they sell. “Between their low prices and my credits, I paid two dollars (on my last visit) and walked out with some great clothes,” Gordon said. She especially likes buying previously worn clothing for formal events because “it won’t cost you an arm and a leg.”
If you like being able to touch the fabric and try on clothes, shop from brick-and-mortar stores, she advised. Springfield has a variety of secondhand stores – some specialize in vintage items, some target the 20-something and younger crowd and some target professionals, while others offer clothing in additional to household goods and other items.
For real bargains, visit the Goodwill Outlet in Jacksonville, known as the Goodwill bins because items are placed in large bins. This warehouse sells items left over from its retail stores for $1.89 per pound, although larger items may have individual prices.
Others prefer broadening their options by shopping websites. Popular online stores include Poshmark, ThredUp, The Resell Club, Curtsy, The RealReal and eBay. For information about sustainable clothing brands, Young recommends Commons. “If you have a sustainability goal, it can help you accomplish it, even if it’s not clothing-related.”
On some used clothing websites, you can search for brands you like and sizes you need. However, not all secondhand clothes sites have good return policies, so check before you purchase in case the item doesn’t fit.
“I can’t think of any downsides to buying used clothing,” Gordon says. “You save money, get things that still have a lot of life in them, and I think it’s a lot of fun.”
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This article appears in Healthy, wealthy and wise 2025.
