5 Apps to Up Your Thrifting Game

Are you looking for a sustainable way to breathe fresh life into your wardrobe? Second-hand clothes can be a great alternative to buying something new. Not to mention, it's better for the planet and your bank account! The average American is estimated to throw away 70-81 pounds of clothing every year. That's the equivalent of over 200 t-shirts, per person. The U.S. EPA estimates that textile waste occupies nearly 5% of all landfill space.

You can shop second-hand at your local thrift store or vintage shop, but why not enjoy the great deals from the comfort of your own home (or car, or ? There are now several used clothing apps that offer the perfect way to shop second-hand, from anywhere. We’ve selected a few of our favorites to share with you!

1. DEPOP

Depop offers a mix of fast fashion brands, vintage pieces and independent

sellers, with a huge variety of different styles.

Pros: Depop is full of quirky, unique clothing items. You can tailor the search criteria and save your preferred sizes, making the in-app experience a breeze. You can also swap items with sellers, which is a fun added bonus.

Cons: Be wary of resellers; they operate heavily on Depop, buying up large volumes of the same piece of clothing and marking it up for a profit. They can also trick you into thinking you’re buying from an independent designer when it’s actually cheap, fast fashion, so keep an eye out.

2. FLYP

Ideal for those with little time on their hands, Flyp connects you to a network of independent “Pro Sellers” who take on the task of selling your clothes for you. Flyp prides itself on quality, carefully curating what clothes are accepted on the app.

Pros: Pro sellers have a vested interest in selling your clothes, so it’s more likely that they will sell to someone who genuinely wants them – an added sustainability benefit.

Cons: You have to pay a commission to the person who sells your clothes for you.

3. THREDUP

Offering a huge range of brands, thredUP sells your clothes for you, keeping some commission and paying you a percentage.

Pros: The filter options on the app refine your search and save you time. Plus, the “Buy & Bundle” shipping option combines items from multiple orders and ships everything together.

Cons: The payouts for your sales are considerably lower than other second-hand clothing apps, so you could make less money selling on ThredUP.

4. GRAILED

Selling both used and new clothing on the app, Grailed is hailed as the world’s most popular menswear resale marketplace. Filled with streetwear brands, vintage pieces and independent designers, you're sure to find something you love.

Pros: Grailed offers a space for men to explore sustainable fashion in an inclusive setting, something that we need more of the industry. You have buyer protection with PayPal, so your transactions are eligible for refunds.

Cons: Grailed has been criticized for their high seller fees, especially for international sellers.

5. POSHMARK

Offering up to 70% off prices on thousands of popular brands, Poshmark is an ideal app for bargain shoppers.

Pros: Poshmark offers protected payments, so if something goes wrong, you can get a full refund. The app also makes it easy to negotiate a price with the “Offer” feature.

Cons: For items priced over $15, Poshmark takes a 20% commission from your sale; so, for more expensive items you could potentially lose a lot of money. Also, when searching on Poshmark, the total number of available listings is not indicated, leading to endless scrolling trying to find the item you want.

Shopping secondhand is not only sustainable, but it’s accessible too. With so many new and exciting apps, you are sure to find something no matter what your budget or style are. We’re not saying you have to buy everything used, but maybe the next time you’re shopping for something specific, you could check the apps above first to see if you can find what you’re looking for.

Happy thrifting, xx.