Green Cotton

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This week, CNN’s Lisa Respers France wrote a story titled “Thrift fashions on the money during recession.” Her article discusses how consignment stores, thrift shops, and goodwill stores have been experiencing a boost in sales while all other industries seem to be hit hard by these economic times. As people have less money to spend, they are searching for ways to stretch every dollar a little further, and shopping second hand and vintage is the perfect way to do so! Price points at these stores are much lower than new clothing items, and some remain more fashionable than you would think. One can often even find hardly used clothing or accessories from brand names such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Chanel for very low prices at Goodwill and other second hand stores.

“Goodwill” is traditionally misunderstood as a place that offers cheap clothing to people in the lowest income brackets, but actually Goodwill’s true mission is to provide job training and employment services to people with disadvantages or disabilities through the funds raised by selling clothing. Brendan Hurley, senior vice president of Marketing and Communications for Goodwill of Greater Washington, has been working hard to change people’s perception of Goodwill, and has had great success since the viral marketing campaign launched and DC Goodwill Fashion Blog run by Em Hall has taken off in popularity. DC Goodwill Fashion Blog is run by Em Hall and is an EcoChic weekly. Congratulations, Em!

Designer CLU featured on DC Goodwill Fashion Blog

Goodwill’s across the nation have been holding multiple fashion shows a year to try to increase awareness of their products and mission. One especially creative runway show put on by Goodwill/Easter Seals in Minnesota gave 30 volunteer designers 50 dollars to take clothing from local Goodwill stores and create hip new outfits out of them. This event ended up being a great success, attracting over 500 attendees.

Sales have been so good across the thrift store industry that national spokeswoman for the Salvation Army, has cited fears that donations will not be able to meet increasing demands and may result in under-stocked shelves.

Here at Green Cotton we are very happy that so many people are choosing to reuse other’s clothing instead of buying new, as this decreases waste.

As savvy second-hand shoppers located in the Boston region, Green Cotton will take a minute to share our personal favorite consignment shops in the Boston area with all of you.

The Garment District
My jaw dropped when I walked into this store for the first time. My favorite area is the second floor, where all the vintage clothing from the 60s, 70s and 80s is kept. I bought a great sweater and a couple dresses, that I plan to tweak slightly to bring into 2009. All these items were so well priced I just couldn’t say no to any of them. There is also a pile of clothing for $1.50 a pound! Most people only visit the Garment District to look for Halloween costumes, but I would buy my entire wardrobe there and definitely think it’s worth checking out!

Second Time Around is located in Harvard square and also Newbury Street and has some higher end and more contemporary second hand clothing. When I went, they were having a great winter sale and so everything was cheaper, but I think they are generally slightly more pricey than the garment district.

Poor Little Rich Girl In Davis Square offers a combination of vintage and contemporary second hand (and new) clothing, but is also a little more pricey. If you’re looking for something a little fancier or jewelry, I would suggest looking here.

There are Goodwill’s in Davis Square and Central Square, too. Both carry an assortment of well kept second hand clothing, from jewels in the rough to crap but are always worth a peruse if you have an extra hour to kill.

If you are outside the Boston area have no fear, just go to Goodwill Store Locator and type in the town you live and zip code and it will find the closest goodwill to your location in seconds!

By Julia Rea