Vintage fashion is a blast from the past as it makes a powerful comeback in this current generation. With fast fashion on its current rise to mainstream clothing, the impact of its popularity has taken a toll on the environment like no other. But Generation Z is increasingly interested in buying secondhand, choosing the sustainable approach to style.
For fashion to be considered “vintage,” it would have to have been made at least 20 years ago. For this generation, it’s the late 90s to early 2000s that they’re trying to recreate. Baggy shorts and faded tour tees on the guys, cheetah print and low-rise jeans on the girls. The desire to express their individuality through nostalgic fashion has almost overcome the want for something new.
In fact, according to ThredUp, an online marketplace and resale platform, “around 64% of Gen Z say that they look for an item secondhand, rather than buying it new.”
ThredUp 2023 resale report also stated that “between 2021 and 2022, the market increased 28% … by 2024, secondhand apparel will account for 10% of the global market.”
From thrift stores to online resellers, the joy of finding a one of one piece for an affordable price has become the new wave for the younger generation.
Citing ThredUp’s report, Riverdale Review said, “The top three reasons Gen Z are buying used clothing is to save money, to be more sustainable and have more fun shopping …” Young adults now are bridging the gap between them and older generations with their common love for quality clothing.
New and contemporary designers also find inspiration from vintage fashion. Tamia Deas, a junior at Baruch College, believes that “Vintage gives this generation opportunities to create new things that will go down in history as vintage.”
History repeats itself as upcoming fashion creatives produce garments that are odes to an era that they admire and long for, even if they’ve never experienced it.
SeaVees founder and CEO Steven Tiller tells Forbes, “…they’re gravitating towards this feeling of being nostalgic for an experience that they never had.”
Although vintage fashion is the cleaner and smarter choice, it doesn’t always come at accessible rates. The growth of the secondhand market led to a growth in their prices as well ever since it became more saturated in recent years.
“People who take care to rife through the rails and find holy grail vintage pieces are aware of their worth, which drives up the prices,” Canvas8’s senior insight editor Alex Strang said. “But only some people are willing to pay that premium.”
In this current economy, aside from quality, reasonable prices are what keeps a customer coming back. Keeping this in mind, Gen Z can either continue to support vintage resellers and local thrift shops or go for the convenience of foreign wholesalers.
“I love thrifting. I love to get a whole day to walk around all my favorite stores,” Raymon Fernandez, a senior at Baruch college, said. “And not just buying, but taking my time and really browsing—making sure that I’m choosing something that stands out…”
Personal style takes time to develop. The possibilities are endless and all it takes is some trial and error to find the right pieces.
