Why Thrift?
People thrift for all
kinds of reasons—because it’s cheap, because it’s cool, because Macklemore does
it, and also to be environmentally and socially responsible. Shopping at thrift
and resale shops is an important way to be a link in the reduce-reuse-recycle
chain. With second hand stores all over Ann Arbor, anyone at U of M can shop
thrift!
Environment
Every item purchased second
hand means one less item produced AND one less item sent to the landfill. The
production of clothing has a greater environmental impact than you might
have guessed. Cotton is the most pesticide-intensive crop in the world
and an input of 2,500 liters (660 gallons) of water is required to produce one
cotton T-shirt. Furthermore, the manufacturing and transport of clothing and its components is
energy-intensive, and studies show 97.4% energy savings from reusing cotton
clothing.
Social
Many popular clothing
brands including H&M, Target, Gap, JC Penney, Nike, Old Navy, Limited,
Banana Republic, and more have been accused of using sweat shops and child
labor, providing unfair wages and poor working conditions. Buying from these
brands may be supporting social injustice. Thrift shops, on the other hand,
often support charities like Salvation Army and Purple Heart, so you know your
money is going to the right place.
U of M
Property Disposition is
where surplus items from U of M departments are sold, responsibly disposed of, or
recycled—you could think of it as our campus thrift shop! Both UM Departments
and the general public can shop at Property Disposition, and it can be a great,
cheap, sustainable way to stock or furnish your home, dorm, or office. Items
you can expect to find include chairs, tables, desks, book cases, file cabinets,
computers, copiers, kitchen supplies, and lab and hospital equipment. Hours are
a little funky and are different for UM departments and general public so be
sure to go online before you visit: http://www.finance.umich.edu/analysis/property-disposition/public.
U of M also contributes
to reuse culture through the Student Move Out
program. Students can bring unopened food and toiletries, and lightly used
clothing, bedding, household items, and furniture to donation boxes or “Take It
or Leave It” areas in every dorm. These items are then donated to local
charities and thrift shops—last year, almost 12 tons of donations were donated
to Purple Heart, Food Gatherers, St. Vincent De Paul, and the Salvation Army!
Become a link in the reduce-reuse-recycle chain by donating your clothes to thrift stores, selling them to consignment stores, and buying second-hand clothing whenever possible.
Second-hand Stores in Ann Arbor
Thrift
Consignment
Vintage
Children’s
Other
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