Clothes with character: the rise of thrifting culture in Pakistan
Pakistan
"Thrifting is a new way to fashion, a new way of living" (Image: The Eco Hub)
By Fatima Shafiq
Aimen Afaq, 20, a student at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), snapped some photos of her old clothes and posted them on her Instagram account. As she scrolled through her feed, she said, "thrifting is a new way to fashion, a new way of living."
As consumers seek out more eco-friendly and economical shopping options, thrifting - shopping for second-hand clothing, furniture and household goods - is on the rise. “Thrifting allows me to purchase items at a lower cost, saving my money for other spending,” Afaq said.
To promote slow fashion, which encourages people to buy fewer clothes and invest in pieces that will last longer and are more sustainable, Afaq uses Instagram accounts like, “Retro Moon,” to buy and sell used apparel for two years. She says thrifting promotes small, independent enterprises that are crucial to preserving a healthy and diverse local economy.
For many years, buying used goods and reusing existing ones have been regular activities. However, consumers have now become more aware of how their purchasing behaviours affect the environment, and this in turn has fuelled the expansion of thrift shops and online marketplaces for buying and selling used goods.
Market research firm Global Data predicted that between 2020 and 2024, the global market for used clothing would expand by 9.8%, indicating that the trend is growing around the world and not just in Pakistan.
(Image: Parapuan)
Moreover, as slow fashion has gained momentum, the stigma previously associated with thrifting that discouraged many people from buying and selling used goods has been fading. According to a recent ThredUp poll of 3,500 American adults and 50 fashion companies, by 2026 the secondhand market in the United States is predicted to more than double over 2022, reaching $82 billion. This demonstrates the growth in the use of second-hand clothing in the future.
“Thrifting is one of the preferred ways to integrate fashion and sustainability,” said Shiza Maryam, a 2022 fashion design graduate of the Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design (PIFD). According to Maryam, the development of sustainable clothing that supports environment has become prominent in fashion industries and universities. For her research project, Maryam examined upcycling used clothing to create eco-friendly clothing.
By revamping clothing to cut down on waste, companies such as Raasta, an urban-wear clothing brand in Pakistan, are promoting sustainable fashion. “Brands may reduce the negative environmental effects of the fast-fashion industry by upcycling old clothing,” Maryam said, “as the textile industry is notorious for producing large amounts of trash, pollution and greenhouse-gas emissions.”
Global Village Space reported in 2021 that $46 million in used clothing was exported from the EU to Pakistan, making the country a prime market for used clothing from Europe. In recent years, more individuals have started buying thrifted clothing due to the lower cost and greater awareness of sustainable fashion, especially among young people. Since Pakistan is already facing the repercussions of climate change and poverty, thrifting as a growing trend can benefit the environment.
It helps conserve resources and lowers the expenses involved with waste disposal by keeping items out of landfills, which reduces the waste produced by consumption products. Consumers save energy, raw materials and labour by buying used goods instead of new ones, lowering production of new goods and the emission of environmentally harmful greenhouse gases during the manufacturing process.
With the rise of the trend in Pakistan and around the world, secondhand clothing is no longer just a last resort for those on a tight budget. It has become a statement of individuality and a symbol of conscious consumerism.
