If second-hand is your thing or if you’re thrift curious, get excited because Sunday is National Thrift Day! It’s all about showing that what’s pre-loved for one can be brand new for someone else. Beyond the thrill of a great find, thrifting is quietly rewriting the story of fashion. It’s about rescuing quality pieces from landfill, supporting local sellers, and proving that looking good doesn’t have to cost the Earth. You can see some of my thrift finds, plus other ways I reduce my consumption here. 

Before we get to the fun part (and trust me, it’s fun), let’s take a quick look at why our wardrobes need a rethink…

A Fast Fashion Reality Check

According toClean Up Australia, Aussiesbuy 56 new items of clothing each year. We’re buying 60% more than we did 15 years ago, but keeping items for half as long. We’re also the second-highest textile consumers in the world, right after the USA (not so cool).

And that cute bargain top you wore twice? It’s part of the 23 kilograms of clothing the average Aussie sends to landfill each year. Even when we donate, only 15% of those clothes are resold here in Australia. The rest are shipped overseas or quietly buried in landfill.

It sounds grim, but here’s the good news: we have the power to turn it around. And it can actually be… fun. That’s where thrifting comes in.

My Love Affair with Second-Hand Style

I wasn’t always into thrifting (unless you count the forced hand-me-downs from my sister as “thrifting” hahaha). 

About eight years ago, I learned more about the impact of fast fashion and started visiting thrift stores. Not for clothes at first, but for things like vases and a table for our warehouse when I launched Go For Zero. I even bought our shelving second-hand, and all our cabinets too. Slowly, I began browsing the clothing racks. At first, I found it tricky to spot my size and style, but I quickly fell in love with the thrill of a bargain without guilt and the joy of supporting good causes.

And then… I discovered Thrifter.

Meet Thrifter: Australia’s Fastest Growing Sustainable Shopping Movement

Thrifter began in 2024 with one simple mission:to give pre-loved fashion a fighting chance while helping locals earn from their wardrobes. The mastermind behind it all is Renee, a powerhouse of creativity and determination who turned a single warehouse in Noosaville into one of Australia’s most exciting sustainable shopping movements.

      

Today, Thrifter has stores in Noosa, Kawana, the Gold Coast, Melbourne, and Sydney, with Mackay opening its doors on 1 September 2025. Their innovative Rent-A-Rack system lets yousell your clothes for an entire month without manning a stall. All you do is pay for your rack, tag and hang your clothes and you keep 100% of the profits, no sneaky commission cuts here. Plus, you can refill your rack anytime during the month to keep your stall fresh and full of new treasures.

And because Ren doesn’t do things by halves, Thrifter also hosts pop-up thrift markets buzzing with the kind of finds that make you text your friends, “You won’t believe what I just scored!” This September, they’re even running a school holiday program in Noosa toinspire the next generation of thrifters.

And guess what… Thrifter is also stepping into homewares with Thrifter Home, launching on 1 September 2025 in Noosa. Think pre-loved and up-cycled furniture with the same community-driven spirit, but for your living room (love!) 

Why Choosing Pre-Loved is a Win for You and the Planet

Buying second-hand isn’t just about saving money (though your bank account will definitely thank you). It’s about extending the life of quality pieces, reducing the mountains of textile waste, and slowing down the relentless pace of fast fashion. Plus, second-hand shopping often leads to discovering unique items with stories behind them, and that’s way more fun than picking something off a mass-produced rack.

National Thrift Day: Go For Zero x Thrifter Giveaway

At the end of the day, shopping pre-loved isn’t just a trend, it’s a choice to value what already exists, support local communities, and give every garment (or coffee table) the longest, happiest life possible. National Thrift Day is the perfect excuse to browse the rails, discover a bargain, andhelp rewrite the future of fashion one outfit at a time.

 
If you loved this story, there’s plenty more where that came from right here!

With Love,
Ellie xox