Gen Z and Millennials Fueling the Rise of Secondhand

Gen Z and Millennials Fueling the Rise of Secondhand

When it comes to understanding the impact of the fashion industry on the planet, Gen Z and Millennials are on top of it, fueling a fashion resale frenzy like never seen before.

Instead of piles of used footwear and used clothing going into landfills, these two generations are thinking of ways to keep secondhand footwear moving forward instead of getting stuck in the mire. Call it resale, re-commerce, or the secondhand market - Gen Z and Millennials are sending their former sneaker favorites on to their next life with other eco-minded consumers instead of sending them to a landfill.

It’s easier than ever to pass used footwear along in this new, circular economy. Thrift stores, resale shops and online resale platforms are opening all over the U.S. The National Association of Resale Professionals (NARP) released new industry data in 2021, stating there are more than 25,000 resale, consignment, and not-for-profit resale shops in the United States.

Buying used footwear not only supports a circular economy, but it also brings the brilliance of Gen Z and Millennial thinking into the mainstream. Wearing a pair of pre-owned sneakers shows others you care about the future of the planet. While asking an older generation of sneaker consumers to buy secondhand isn’t always easy, leading by example is a responsibility we all can take part in.

Here are a few easy ways to encourage others to shop for secondhand sneakers and support a circular economy:

  1. If you know someone who previously owned and loved a pair of sneakers that is no longer being made, let them know they might be able to find their pre-loved sneakers on a resale site or in a thrift store.
  2. Remind your family and friends how the footwear industry creates harmful pollution and waste that ends up in landfills for several decades. Encourage them to purchase secondhand to reduce the amount of carbon created during manufacturing and to keep used footwear out of landfills.
  3. When your sneakers reach their last mile, send them to SneakerCycle to be reused or recycled. You can conveniently request a FREE Clean Out Kit on their website. All shipping is free. If your footwear is in reusable condition, we’ll restore the shoes and recirculate them throughout the secondhand economy. If your sneakers are too worn to be reused, no problem; we’ll make sure they’re recycled so the materials can be reused or converted into new energy.

Visit us online to shop the largest selection of pre-loved athletic footwear and request your FREE Clean Out Kit today!

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