Quinten Ortega (12) has an eye for what speaks to him. Discovering what sticks out among torn volunteer t-shirts and polyester striped sweaters comes naturally to him within the bins of Goodwill.

“I first went with my mom around three years ago, and it kind of just started from there,” Ortega said. “I realized that I could find really cool things. It started to become a thing for me.”

However, thrifting is more than just finding the perfect fit for Ortega. Second-hand shopping is more than an exploration of personal style—it’s a method of combatting the environmental and social harms of fast fashion, a business model within the fashion industry characterized by cutting corners in the garment-making process in order to produce clothes that align with the current micro-trends.

“I think fast fashion really takes away from people being themselves,” Ortega said. “People tend to start falling into trends and not being themselves and really just losing a sense of self. It’s sad.”

While avoiding fast fashion is a perk of thrifting it also helps Ortega find a further identity amongst himself.

“I personally like to wear all this unique stuff,” Ortega said. “And fast fashion is basically, like, all this bland, new stuff that’s appealing for, like, regular, everyday people that don’t really share a sense of style.”

Not only does Ortega worry about the issues of fast fashion, but AP Environmental Science teacher and Eco Club sponsor, Megan Mosher teaches students about the impacts of the fast fashion industry on the environment. She also aims to be very informed and up to date on the issues with fast fashion since she has two young kids.

“In AP Environmental Science, we do what’s called a life cycle analysis,” Mosher said. “We look at everything that goes into making a t-shirt. Knowing the whole process about what’s required to make clothes brings awareness to fast fashion. When fast fashion started hitting the news, especially with a lot of these textiles companies overseas making products cheaply and quickly, you find out that the working and environmental conditions are horrid.”

Goodwill Industries report that 10% of global carbon emissions and significant water pollution are caused by the fashion industry. Infamous fast fashion companies such as Shein and Temu prioritize efficiency and profit over the well-being of their workers, quality products, and sustainability.

“I am conscious of not supporting any of those companies,” Mosher said. “Instead, the ability to buy used clothes has popped up, and has been great, especially for kids’ clothes, because they grow so fast. There’s several Facebook marketplace groups, like a Buy Nothing Boulder, that I’m a part of for second-hand clothing. I’ve also used Poshmark and now donate my own clothes and buy from thredUP.”

As Mosher and Ortega shop consciously for their own style and ethical efforts, Ortega also encourages others to do so, as well, by selling through Storetega, his secondhand and handmade collective.

“Stortega is basically me selling clothes to kids in the community, and it’s mostly unique clothes or clothes that I think are cool, not just things that will sell,” Ortega said. “Sometimes stuff doesn’t sell, but it’s still cool in my eyes.”

While he doesn’t always profit off the clothing sold on his depop or instagram, Ortega finds joy in looking for pieces he finds unique and helping his clientele and friends portray their message through fashion.

“There’s so much character to all the pieces that people find,” Ortega said. “It grows your wardrobe and grows who you are. You can really express yourself through thrifting and what you wear.”
Ortega pushes people to find better alternatives to fast fashion such as buying secondhand or revamping their own clothes in order to save the environment and communities that depend on it.

“I think you should tell your friends that you’re getting rid of clothes, so they can go through them first,” Ortega said. “Otherwise, use ARC and places in your community like your local market, local Goodwill, or maybe small mom and pop shops. Those shops that really affect the community.”