Secondhand culture continues to evolve alongside creator-led crazes – be it vlogs of iconic thrift finds, strokes of styling genius, or envy-inducing hauls that redefine the boundaries of reuse.
Distinguishing between thrifting, vintage and deadstock is one thing, but the evolving community terminology is another entirely. Here are a few to consider on your next thrifting trip.
“Bins find”
Refers to items scored at pay-by-the-pound thrift outlets.
“Charity Shop”
Common in the United Kingdom, a charity shop is a community run or donation-based shop that funds specific charitable initiatives.
“Grail”
A coveted piece considered a major personal achievement. This term is more predominant in the menswear community including platforms like Grailed and StockX.
“Haul”
A structured or chaotic reveal of items secured in a single sourcing mission – showing off one’s prowess for finding good deals or note-worthy finds. Similar to fast-fashion, thrift hauls have come under scrutiny for promoting overconsumption.
“Preloved”
A luxury-favored synonym for secondhand frequently tapped by resale platforms such as Vestiaire Collective and The RealReal.
“Reworked”
A piece altered, tailored or reconstructed into an entirely new garment.
“The Thrift”
Shorthand for the thrift store as a singular, living institution — an ecosystem that responds to intuition, good timing and taste.
“Thrift blindness”
A tongue-in-cheek term used by both seasoned thrifters and novices to describe moments when discernment falters, often triggered by an outrageous, borderline-ugly, or questionably priced item whose “value” clouds one’s judgment.
“Thrift gods”
The mythical forces believed to guide knowing thrifters toward extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime discoveries, typically of the designer or archival variety.
“Thrift karma”
A governing principle that one’s generosity and care within the thrift environment forges future shopping destinies. This fate could be enforced by picking up fallen items and rehanging them, bringing items forth from a fitting room or putting back a desirable item that is not fit for oneself.
“Thrift queen”
A given or self-appointed title for a skilled thrifter whose eye, dedication and editorial viewpoint consistently draw praise and reward.
“Thrifted versus styled”
A comparative visual format showcasing a piece first in its raw, newly-acquired form and then fully realized through intentional styling.
“ThriftEd Mag”
The original thrift editorial magazine dedicated to making reuse modern.
“Upcycled”
A piece creatively transformed or improved beyond its original form.
“White Whale”
A long-sought, highly specific item a thrifter hopes to find, often materializing from one’s Pinterest board.
Have ideas for any more entries? Comment your contributions.
