Thrifting has long been a practice loved by fashion enthusiasts, bargain hunters, and curious shoppers alike. In recent years, secondhand shopping has taken on a new look, fueled by internet trends and a thirst for something beyond the mainstream. According to a Forbes article, the secondhand apparel market in the US went from $28 billion in 2019 to $49 billion in 2024.
Today, thrifting appears in many forms. Online storefronts like Depop and ThredUp allow users to buy and resell clothing. On the other hand, in-person stores, big and small, remain popular, even right here in Corvallis.
Corvallis’s Goodwill location represents thrifting at its simplest: An accessible, no muss, no fuss selection of clothing, books, movies, and other knickknacks that might catch your eye.
Belle Hume, a fourth year anthropology and international studies major, works part-time at Goodwill, and is quite passionate about the organization’s mission.
“It was a good starting point for working at a nonprofit,” said Hume, who hopes for a future career in humanitarian aid. “I think the opportunity was really profound for me, because of my desire to be working to make things accessible for other people.”
Hume works in the store’s clothing department, and as a cashier. “I notice how trends move through the store…The big majority of clothing are trends that have just passed by,” she said. “Like the coquette trend…very flowery, very stereotypical femininity. Our store right now has a lot of bows everywhere.”
Because Goodwill relies on mass donations, their stores can feel like a haphazard treasure trove rather than a curated boutique. But according to Hume, that’s not always a bad thing.
“The pace of it, I would say, is the biggest thing,” she said, referring to how the layout of Goodwill forces customers to take their time. “I think it’s supposed to be something you meander through, slowly looking at things.”
Over the past decade, the thrifting experience has been influenced by the internet and social media, especially with younger generations. Fascination with vintage apparel is evident in fashion revivals such as the Y2K resurgence, which reintroduces the flashy styles of the 2000s.
“As we’ve moved through generations of fashion, vintage has become more of an appealing label,” Hume said. “I’ve seen people having party themes for like, 2016, and that was ten years ago!”
With the access to past eras through the internet, defining one’s style is easier than ever. “Thrifting as a whole is repurposing, it’s taking things on,” said Hume. “At its core, you’re buying something that belonged to somebody else before you, and I think there’s a lot of powerful energy in that.”
Still, Goodwill isn’t ideal for bonafide vintage items.
“There’s just such a wide variety,” Hume said. “On the occasion that I can help somebody, it’s usually a reproduction. But we do have regulars, people who come in every single day, who look for things of worth.” Hume says she mostly helps college students, especially around events like Halloween. But, since Goodwill is so accessible, it’s easy for people of all ages to come and browse.
Kate Dillon is the owner and manager of Lady Luck Vintage Market in downtown Corvallis. They sell not just vintage clothing, but also retro games, VHS tapes, and local art.
“We have 25 vendors right now that rent different booths or shelf spaces. I feel like all together, they cover so many different aesthetics, so many different eras,” Dillon said. “We like to say that we have something for everybody, regardless of price point.”
Lady Luck’s offerings mean that there’s less of a need to comb through items by yourself. Vendors are responsible for pricing their own product, but according to Dillon, there’s a good reason for the upcharge.
“You’re paying for somebody to have put in the work behind the item you see on the shelf. So usually, that is cleaning…mending, and some level of care has been put into it.” She confessed. “So it’s not quite as accessible, because it is a higher price point… But then sometimes, we still have five dollar bins.”
Being in the heart of downtown Corvallis means great foot traffic. Dillon sees customers of all ages, budgets, and styles. She chalks the excitement up to social media fads, but also loves the effect that nostalgia has on thrift shopping and fashion.
“There are collectors… who are going after, like, ‘I want the leather jacket that I had in the 90s, or like, ‘I want a pair of bell bottoms, like what my mom had in the 70s.’” Dillon is also aware of her younger customers. “The vast majority of our shoppers… are college age, who’re coming to do a closet refresh, or they’re like…’This is my aesthetic. This is what I wear daily.’”
“Fashion is just this big world of everybody building on each other and being inspired by each other,” Dillon said. “So we’re always gonna see different things being pulled from the past.”
And the allure of thrifting shows no signs of fading. “I just think there’s a bunch of people out there who love thrift, who love the thrill of the hunt,” Dillon said. “Those who like to dress uniquely, and have fun wardrobes with eclectic pieces or heirlooms. That is not gonna go away.”
