Taking a nod from Vogue, the fashion industry and fashion-forward students around campus, The Bison is issuing our own September Issue, joining the ranks of publications this month highlighting the newest trends and stories behind the trendsetters. In this series, read how four Harding students have made fashion part of their personal stories. Follow this link to see the full spread.
Most people would consider shopping at thrift stores a cost-efficient way to dress when you are low on cash or in need of a quick costume to wear to a mixer. For sophomore communications major Sally Roach, however, thrift shopping is a way of life.
“I shop second-hand, and I think that’s important because it will usually give back to your immediate community, which I am a big believer in,” Roach said.
Roach shops almost exclusively at second hand stores or those that are fair trade certified. You will almost never find her wearing something that someone else has on.
Last year, Roach watched a documentary on the working conditions of garment workers in other countries and decided to limit her shopping to ethical and sustainable fashion.
“Things aren’t made to last anymore. We are constantly needing more looks to try to keep pace,” Roach said.
The Huffington Post said that fashion used to change twice a year, once in the Fall and again in the Spring. Now, in the era of “fast-fashion”, the fashion industry has 52 “micro-seasons” per year. This creates new trends every week, pressuring consumers to buy more pieces to keep up with new looks.
Trend: Hippie.
“Avoiding fast fashion is so hard, because what if I can’t find jeans that fit me at a thrift store,” Roach said. “There aren’t a lot of stores that sell fair trade clothes that are affordable for a college student so it’s really hard.”
Roach describes her personal style as “boho-hiker-grandma-chic.” Instead of looking to follow trends or style icons, Roach just wears what she likes and tries to piece unique items together.
Roach’s favorite Searcy shopping spots are Goodwill, The Sharing Shop and Hope Restored Thrift Store. She said she loves that the money is going back into the community and into some nonprofits as well.
“I’m really into the slow fashion movement, so for a while, I really thought I was just going to make my own clothes,” Roach said. “That is very hard.”
Although making her own clothes might not be in her future, Roach looked in her past to find where her passion for unique fashion began to develop.
“As a kid, my parents let me pick out my clothes so I’m sure that had a huge part in it,” Roach said. “We would go thrifting, so all of my clothes would be from thrift stores. I really started to develop a unique style at that age.”
Roach’s style is whatever she wants it to be, and whatever she can find.
“The thrill of the thrift is in the hunt,” Roach said.
