As I explore more about why companies and people are unsustainable, there’s one glaring reason that sticks out to me. It’s not ignorance, malice, or even money; it’s convenience. Especially living in America, our lifestyle revolves around convenience. We drive in cars that emit gas because we don’t want the inconvenience of walking or biking. We buy snacks in packaged bags, get food that’s packaged unsustainably in drive thrus, eat an excess amount of meat, and many more things all for the sake of convenience. The more I observe how reliant our society has become on convenience, the more I realize that convenience is a disease to environmentalism. Taking care of the planet takes effort. It takes thought. This, unfortunately, is something many Americans aren’t acclimated to. I will be the first to admit that I’m guilty of it too; we all are. However, making simple lifestyle changes by learning about the harmful consequences of our daily actions may change your perspective on convenience.
            At the beginning of high school, I gave thought to my meat consumption. I believe that if you truly want to make changes in how sustainable you are, your diet should be the number one priority. So, I became vegetarian. Although it took some adjusting, it’s easily one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve ever made. Although I missed chicken nuggets and hamburgers in drive thrus, knowing that I was doing a small act for the planet made my decision worthwhile, and I’ve been vegetarian ever since.
            Finding ways around convenience in our daily lives can be tedious and exhausting, but I believe the first step to being sustainable is by forming good habits. Making your coffee yourself in the morning instead of waiting in the Starbucks drive thru, washing out an item and breaking down boxes for recycling, and taking reusable bags to the grocery store are all simple ways to promote sustainability and end our bad habits. So, I encourage you to look at your habits and if the convenience of your daily routine can be more sustainable!
             

When the pandemic started, it altered how I shopped for clothes. Because I only shop secondhand, I wondered how safe it was to go to thrift stores in person. While quarantining, I researched the best thrifting apps and explored different websites that I found had the best environmental impact and catered to changing and evolving styles. Here is a list of my 5 favorite thrifting apps that provide an option for me to fashionably and sustainably shop from home! 

1. Vinted.  

• I absolutely swear by this app. I have recommended this to countless friends and almost all of them have loved it.  This app was the first online thrift app that I downloaded, and it is such a good app to both buy and sell clothes. In addition, it’s also one of the cheaper options as far as online thrifting goes. If you’re looking for a budget friendly and fashion forward thrifting website, this is my number one recommendation.  

    2. Depop.  

• Depop is probably the most fashion forward thrifting app out of these 5, but it is also the priciest. The thing that I love most about Depop though is that many of the clothes are made by independent creators or artists. Depop is the best app for someone looking at unique and diverse clothes. I find Depop good for looking at clothes that reflect my individual style, and I like supporting more independent creators while staying ethical with my clothing consumption.  

    3. Curtsy. 

• Curtsy is very similar to vinted, except the only differences I find are that there are more name brands, but it is a little pricier than Vinted. Although it is pricier, I find the quality of the items always well-made and in good condition. I use this app for selling my clothes as well! It’s an amazing app to make money off, especially when you have higher end clothes.  

    4. Thredup.  

• Thredup is very different from the previous apps above. You cannot sell your clothes on this app, but the biggest benefit is that it’s the most economically friendly option for online thrifting. Thredup.com is a website that takes traditionally thrown away clothes and repurposes them for cheap prices that are affordable and accessible. I find Thredup to have the largest selection of clothes and styles and name brands and it is the perfect place for someone who is starting to buy secondhand! 

    5. Poshmark.  

• Poshmark is a competitor of Depop, but I find that Poshmark carries more popular name brand clothes, and less clothes made by independent artists. Poshmark connects you to closets like yours and makes it so simple to list your own clothes. I find this app to be my favorite out of the five for selling my own clothes, and the prices are similar to the prices of Curtsy and Vinted.  

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