It is not uncommon for students to adopt new interests and hobbies to earn money while also taking classes. Some students have started making wire earrings, spoon rings and podcasts. However, a more recent gig that has increased in popularity is the creation of thrift stores through social media accounts.
“I always had a lot of people complimenting my style, and I pretty much only bought my clothes from thrift stores in New York,” sophomore Tian Stephens, who is the creator and owner of Third Ave Vintage, said. “I decided to have my dad ship me stuff from New York and start my own vintage company here to give people the same style.”
Stephens is not the only student who saw the need for students to have better resources to buy stylish clothing. Junior Braden Mathews and Senior Austin Peters started Mo City Thrift to help encourage students to thrift shop more.
“I always loved thrifting and that feeling you get from it when you find something fresh or rare,” Matthews said. “I wanted to give people clothes for a cheap price and help give them that good feeling of a fresh find.”
Meanwhile, Peters said the initial idea of starting a thrifting account came from needing money while being quarantined and staying home last spring.
“I always loved to thrift, and when quarantine hit, I needed a job and some kind of way to make money,” Peters said. “I picked some old clothes out of my closest and started selling them for sale on Instagram, and I realized from there it was something I could really make money doing.”
Thrift accounts have not only become popular for the creators and sellers, but they have also benefited students who have begun shopping through this method. Junior Cameron Cuellar, owner and creator of Harding Thrift, thinks a lot of this is because it can become just as much of a hobby for the buyer as it is for the seller.
“There’s such a thrill to buying and wearing vintage clothes,” Cuellar said. “Like, it could be something really rare that someone threw out, and it’s yours now.”
All three thrift account owners were quick to say that casual clothes are what Harding students are indulging themselves in, referencing oversized T-shirts and sweaters as their most sold products.
“[The casual look] is really big around campus right now, and I see a lot of baggy sweaters and joggers,” Cuellar said. “I think it gives off a nice, relaxed, chill vibe, too.”
To see what clothes and trends are popping up around campus, follow all three accounts on Instagram at @third.avevintage, @mo_citythrift and @hardingthrift.
