As society evolves, so do its trends. From performing the viral Lara Zarson “Lushlife” TikTok dance and creating the popular “Tiffany” snack plate to sharing “2026 is the new 2016” photos, thrifting has become an increasingly popular trend, especially among young people and Gen Z. The secondhand market is now growing three times faster than traditional retail, with projected sales reaching around $61 billion by the end of the year. Roughly 83% of Gen Z consumers already thrift or plan to start, and 42% of TikTok users regularly engage with thrifting content, highlighting how popular the trend has become.

Despite its popularity today, this wasn’t always my experience growing up. Even as part of Gen Z, thrifting wasn’t very common to me and carried a negative connotation. I was raised by parents with misconceptions: that thrifted items were dirty or unhygienic, that thrifting was only for low-income individuals, or that it was simply a waste of time. As a result, I never fully understood thrifting or recognized that it could be a powerful form of self-expression. I was hesitant to buy pre-owned items and, to be honest, often associated thrifting with social stigma.

However, over time, these perceptions, including my own, began to shift. But why? According to Sharon Rhodes’s article, “The Surprising Truth about Gen Z’s Shift from Malls to Thrift Shops,” Gen Z is the first generation to grow up “entirely in the age of computers and many don’t remember a time before social media.” Rhodes reports that despite the ease of online shopping, Gen Z shops in physical stores “at the same rate as baby boomers and more than millennials.” According to Rhodes, “Gen Z, often followed by fashionable millennials and Gen X, are bringing back styles from the 80s and 90s and transforming them for modern tastes. While clothing brands have replicated these styles, there is an additional level of cool in owning an authentic vintage item.”

Thrifting is also a way to reduce waste and lower one’s carbon footprint, especially as climate change worsens. Many view thrifting as an ethical alternative to fast fashion, helping to reduce landfill waste by choosing pre-owned items. It is also more budget-friendly, especially with how expensive everything is right now. The ability to buy high-end, branded clothing for half the price has become popular and developed into a “brand” in itself.

Social media has played a major role. As a highly tech-savvy generation, “come thrift with me” videos on TikTok or scrolling through thrift hauls on Instagram have become trendy. Influencers are reshaping perceptions of thrifting, making it more desirable rather than “dirty.” Social media also fostered a sense of community, turning thrifting into a “treasure hunt” rather than a laborious, time-consuming task.

As Alex Gray, a student at Henry Ford College, puts it, “If you think that thrifting is unhygienic, just go home and wash it.” She adds, “If you get a bad vibe from something, just don’t buy it.”

After constantly seeing thrift content on my TikTok feed and watching my friends discover great finds, I finally decided to check out my first thrift store a few years ago. On that very first trip, I found my first item: a pair of hot pink Converse, which I immediately fell in love with. Luckily, they were my size. That experience felt incredibly fun, almost like an adventure, and left me wondering what else I could find and where. Since then, I’ve explored various thrift stores, including the Kiwanis Thrift Store, Goodwill, and Step Thrift Store.

As I became more familiar with thrifting, I started to wonder whether items are priced differently depending on location. I visited Goodwill thrift stores in West Dearborn and Canton, and it quickly became clear that these stores reflect the communities around them. In higher-income areas, thrift stores are more likely to stock higher-quality or brand-name items, with higher prices. Meanwhile, stores in lower-income neighborhoods often carry more affordable, lower-tier brands.

While thrifting at the Goodwill in West Dearborn, I had the chance to meet the store’s supervisor, Hassan Youseef, who has worked there for almost a year. When I asked him about the store’s inventory and whether they receive brand-name products, he explained, “We don’t sell them here on the store floor; we actually have an online shop called ShopGoodwill.” In other words, higher-end items are often sold online rather than in-store.

Still, no matter the location, there are always hidden gems; it’s often just a matter of luck. That said, I noticed that Canton Goodwill carried a larger selection of furniture, lamps, and kitchenware compared to West Dearborn. Canton also had a wider variety of clothing and shoes, as the West Dearborn location has been downsizing over the past few years.

Even though thrifting can sometimes come down to luck, there are a few tricks that can improve the chances of finding great pieces. Many people donate over the weekend, so Monday and Tuesday mornings may be the best times to visit, as stores have just restocked. Thrift stores near college-heavy areas may be more picked over, so sometimes less trendy neighborhoods can offer hidden gems that others often overlook.

For me, what once felt unfamiliar has now become meaningful and a way to express my own sense of individuality.