Best Thrift Apps To Buy And Sell Secondhand Clothes Online

Clothing holds the power of storytelling, which can be passed down from generation to generation both in its metaphorical and literal sense. Globally, 80% of abandoned textiles are either burned or end up in landfills, with only 20% recycled and reused. The garments that end up in landfills can sit there for over 200 years. During that period, it decomposes and releases methane, a greenhouse gas that is more potent than carbon.

Fighting textile waste on a global scale does require a collaborative effort. This is why online thrifting is a great opportunity to broaden the viewership for your clothing and/or make wardrobe revisions without hurting the planet. Below, find a handful of thrift apps to help you buy secondhand clothing online, and sell it again when you no longer need it:

6 thrift shop apps helping you + the planet

Poshmark

If you are looking for a true second-hand eco system, Poshmark is the destination for everything from womenswear to menswear, kids, pets, electronics, and even makeup. The best part is that you can check out various Posh Parties that include the best in outdoor gear, bags, and maternity without having to scroll for hours. Brands range from Lululemon to luxurious items like Chanel. All high-end goods run through Poshmark’s complimentary authentication system to ensure shopping is worry-free.

Additionally, Poshmark also makes it incredibly easy to market your goods. Sellers can upload their product within 60 seconds, share the post with their social network, and ship with Poshmark’s prepaid label, which allows you to have cash in your pocket when the item is delivered. You can even host or participate in live streams as if you were at an auction and build a community of like-minded style enthusiasts.

Double Take

Have you ever had a piece that made your head turn? Double Take’s selection of affordable apparel and homewares will surely do just that.

Since 1999, Double Take has been a Yonge-Street Mission employment initiative based in Toronto. Their cause is intertwined in a variety of ways, such as offering work placements for the YSM’s Employment Services programme, sending packages of winter clothes to their food bank, or providing gift cards.

Double Take has incredible donors who specifically come to them, knowing their items are in good hands. All clothing is steam-pressed, and linens are laundered.

On top of that, Double Take has an Artist in Residence opportunity where you can exclusively browse sustainable, ethical, and upcycled goods from Toronto artists. It is a true must-see.

Depop

As you may already know, curated festival edits to cozy movie marathon fits, Depop is home to over 30 million stylists, designers, artists, sneakerheads, and much more. You can easily be inspired by your favorite creatives and up-and-coming influencers in design, fashion, art, and music all in one place.

In June 2023, Depop announced an invitation to all members of their community to partake in Depop Amplified, a unique mission to create engaging content across all social media platforms to amplify the message of sustainable fashion to a wider audience. When participating, creators will be given the opportunity to waive selling fees, unlock shopping vouchers, and even collaborate with Depop on partnerships.

Now that’s what we like to call working in harmony with Mother Earth.

Thred Up

Education and transparency are two qualities that are difficult to come by in any sector, let alone a sustainable one.

One of the original online thrift apps, Thred Up allows consumers to browse and purchase mindfully by providing fruitful and environmentally sound resources throughout their platform. This includes impact reports, a fashion footprint calculator, and annual resale reports. They also commissioned Green Story, an independent research firm that analyzes the environmental impact of buying garments that are used instead of new. Thredup takes pride in adopting a 12-point inspection system to achieve their high quality standards and an evaluation sliding scale for their consumers that ranges from excellent, very good, good, and even flawed gems for a possible DIY.

Outside of that, ThredUp allows customers to shop their favorite influencers or celebrities’ closets. Previous collaborations have included The Real Housewives of New York cast members and 90210 actress Shenae Grimes-Beech.

Goodwill Finds

With brand items like Levis, Patagonia, and Free People that can be found for under $10, it makes sense why influencers on YouTube gush about their Goodwill finds. You can now score such pieces without heading to your local store via Goodwill’s online thrift store. This also includes discovering rare gems like Stella McCartney, The Row, and Acne Studios.

As a non-profit, Goodwill is not only making a difference in your closet, but they are also a network of 155 local organizations across North America that sell used goods to generate job opportunities and guidance. For instance, donating living room furniture provides 3 hours of training services to someone in your community while potentially providing you with $200 in tax deductions.

Additionally, Goodwill organizations are aiming to be LEED certified by using renewable solar energy.

Thrift Plus

Finding a good deal is a plus, but finding a marketplace with over 500K of affordable high street and designer brands is a plus plus.

Thrift Plus is an online thrift store dedicated to providing well-kept and stylish clothing for its consumers. Their crew handles all the photography, listing, packaging, and shipping of every item. This means there are no unexpected stains!

Sellers have the option to earn credit that can be used right at Thrift Plus, donate to charity, or redeem vouchers with their partners like ASOS, Farfetch, GymShark, Browns, and many more.

What other thrift apps would you add to this list? Click here to see 5 more sustainable shopping apps you should know about, helping with everything from secondhand clothing to food waste to creating a green skincare routine.