The thrifty trend on the rise in SA: Why young South Aussies are making the shift to thrift
From op-shops to online markets, fashion-forward South Australians are embracing second-hand fashion. Find out why.
SA News
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From op-shops to Depop, fashion forward South Australians are making the shift to thrift both off and online to build their wardrobes without breaking the bank as cost of living pressures rise.
Long gone are the days when buying second-hand meant sacrificing style with hidden gems from brands like Versace and Guess at bargain prices for those willing to rummage through the racks at their local thrift.
For seasoned opshopper Kayla Ruggiero, thrifting is a challenge to find the diamond in the rough with some of her holy grail finds including authentic vintage Versace sunglasses for $20.
“I don’t go thrifting for designer items, that’s just the cherry on top, but finds that do stand out to me are my real y2k Versace blue sunglasses,” Ms Ruggiero said.
“I’ve also found real Bvlgari sunglasses and recently I found a Guess red handbag that is so cute (and) this is a staple, my black leather trench coat for $10.”
The 23-year-old’s love for thrifted fashion started with a baggy denim jacket almost a decade ago and has only continued to grow since.
“I’ll never forget I was 15 at Tea Tree Plaza, they have a Savers there,” she said.
“I found a white baggy denim jacket and then my life changed because I was like, ‘oh my god’, you know, it was cheap, it was like $8 and really great quality and then also it was in trend and what I’d been looking for in the fast fashion stores.
“My mind was blown and since then my obsession has just grown and grown and grown.”
In 2020 she began sharing her thrift hauls and op shop trips on TikTok to inspire others to make the switch, amassing over 10,000 followers on the platform.
“I love inspiring and motivating people to shop sustainably and sus out the op shops in their area,” Ms Ruggiero said.
“A lot of people you know might see an op shop and just walk by and not really know what’s inside, so I love to share the possibilities of what people can find.”
Thrifting has also found a place in the heart of students like Cheska Nacario, from Seaton, who have turned their hobby into a way to make extra cash using online fashion marketplace, Depop.
Since starting her account last year, she has made around $2000-$2500 selling clothes and accessories including brands like Guess, Ted Baker and Planet Hollywood.
“It has helped a lot,” the 18-year-old said.
“Even though I earn an allowance, it’s definitely come in handy a few times when my allowance just can’t reach.”
Ms Nacario said when it came to selling clothes on Depop, patience and consistency were key, which could be hard when funds were low.
“This makes burnout a big thing and also the pressure to always have something to sell – which can be difficult if you’re lacking funds to source or you just can’t find anything to sell,” she said.
“It is also important to price pieces fairly as no one likes seeing something for $50 when we know you bought it for $5.”
Ms Nacario is also a member of the Adelaide Fashion Collective, a club for university students that hosts regular events and workshops where sustainable fashion is a core value.
“Last year we did events like Fashion for $5 where we sold second-hand clothing for $5 to raise money for charity as well,” she said.
For fellow club member Lucas Campbell, 22, Marino thrifting is a way to save money and help the environment, one piece at a time.
“One of the major problems contributing to waste and in turn climate change is throwing out clothes,” he said.
“We want the fashion industry to become more circular and we want to be able to reuse clothing and purchase second hand and keep wearing things instead of buying something and wearing it once.
“And (thrift stores are) the best place to go for something cheap and something second-hand that’s not straining the environment.”
Mr Campbell began thrifting from a young age with some of his best thrift finds including a vintage Karl Lagerfeld shirt for $7 and Akademiks shorts for $10.
“I got these akademiks shorts, for like $10 from Savers and also from Savers, I think it might have been the same trip, a very good day, a Karl Lagerfeld shirt for $7 also.
“It’s just the coolest material, it was in the wrong section when I found it, Karl Lagerfeld is an expensive brand, so not bad for $7.”
Offline, second hand fashion continues to thrive thanks to vintage sellers like Glenunga local Bernie Elston, 38, who regularly host markets across Adelaide.
In January, she held the city’s first Y2K Vintage Fashion Market, packed with iconic brands like Juicy Couture, Ed Hardy and Von Dutch.
These events are not only great for finding iconic pieces at affordable prices but also in bringing the community together over a shared love of sustainable fashion, she said.
“The whole scene in Adelaide is a really lovely environment, everybody’s interested in helping ingrain a recycling, reusing kind of aspect to vintage clothing,” she said.
“It’s great having a community which are all like minded to kind of inform and help each other and also inspire each other by putting on events where we can support buying second hand.”
Ms Elston said buying second hand was also a way to explore new styles and aesthetics.
“I find that I’m always kind of changing what I’m wearing, so I’m just looking for those few things that I want to wear over and over again until you go into a newer style,” she said.
“When you’re going through your little phases of what you’re into, it’s easier to find things that you’re interested in when you are thrifting because it’s not necessarily the current trends.
“It’s just a lot of fun looking for treasure and the items that are valuable to you, which necessarily may not cost much at all, might only cost 50 cents.”
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