Humans of East: Holly Fairchild

Between working part-time at Savers and checking out local thrift stores any chance she gets, junior Holly Fairchild is constantly thrift shopping. Fairchild encourages others to buy and resell used clothes to not only save money, but also help the environment. 

Q: How did you first get into thrifting?

A: “I think honestly I’ve always thrifted my entire life because I live right next to Savers, and I used to go when I was little. But I thrift religiously now because I work there, so I buy something everyday at least. I pretty much got into it now because I really like clothing, and I really like how thrift stores give back. Also, I just like the [thrift store clothes] better honestly. I can get new stuff from like Urban Outfitters at thrifts and also I can get it for way cheaper, so I’m saving a lot of money and I’m saving our environment so that makes me feel good times two.”

Q: How often do you go out thrifting?

A: “With my friends, that’s basically all they want to do or all I want to do, so I’m usually out going to another thrift store at least three times a week, at least.”

Q: What is the best or most rewarding part about thrifting?

A: “I think just the environmental impact it has and also the fact that most thrift stores give back to charities, so I feel like I’m buying something for myself, but I’m also helping other people around the world. This is kind of a bad thing to say, but I just have a hard time giving back my own money that I’ve earned to people, but if I can do something for myself out of it, I feel like it’s a win-win.”

Q: Where are your favorite places to buy and sell clothes?

A: “I used to [use] Depop a lot, but I love [selling on] Instagram and Plato’s Closet is also another one of my favorites. My friend [freshman] Trey [Hyde] showed me City Thrift, and I love that store. I always try to go to little charity shops like Pennies from Heaven. They sell clothing for five dollars a bag and they also give back to people who are in really rough conditions and the old ladies there don’t make any money from working there — they’re just volunteering. They’re very sweet and I love talking to them, and they usually have cats — and I love cats. There’s this other thrift store owned by a Black family and it’s just called “The Thrift Store” and they’re so sweet. They always give me deals, and I just love talking to them. I got to know them and their story is really neat. I try to get to know the people I shop from before I shop from them, and that makes me want to [buy] from them even more. I really just shop all around. Then Blessings Abound of course and Salvation Army is another favorite, but that’s always a hit or miss because sometimes they have really bad stuff.”

Q: What does an average thrifting trip look like? Do you go in with something specific in mind or just find whatever you can? 

A: “I use Pinterest. I’m a Pinterest addict so I have like thrifting boards, thrift finds, thrift lists and stuff and so I always try to thrift the newest fashion trend or something like that. I usually do have something in mind. I’m with my friend Trey now and he always wanted to thrift a North Face puffer and I always wanted to thrift something from I.AM.GIA, which is a really expensive fashion brand and same with Lululemon. I just thrifted a Louis Vitton purse and my friend thrifted a Dior jacket. We just find a bunch of stuff for cheap. And I used to [shop to] resell, but now I just shop for myself.”

Q: How do you decide which clothes you keep and which clothes you resell?

A: “If it doesn’t fit and I lost the receipt, then I will resell it, but I don’t thrift with it in my mind to resell it anymore. I used to do that, but since I work at a thrift store now, we get 50% off discount so it’s just not right to [buy and resell]. I just try not to resell unless I buy it from the actual store.”

Q: Why do you think others should thrift and resell their clothes?

A: “I think it’s great for the environment and especially with reselling, it makes me so happy when I resell something and then I know that the person loves it and I see them wearing it or they send me pictures of them wearing it. To give that clothing a second chance at life is just an amazing idea. If you think about it, somebody probably loved that item as much as you do now. It just makes people a lot happier when you get something that’s a steal, when you do something like finding a Louis Vitton purse. It’s just like this adrenaline rush. It makes you so happy because you found something so great.”