Mapping New York’s Secondhand Scene: The Vision of Nik’s Thrifts
Nikki Foster recounts the vision and origins of Nik’s Thrifts and how she’s mapping out New York’s secondhand scene.
Some people discover fashion through Vogue. I discovered it through the racks of a New York City Goodwill. My first thrift store visit began as a casual outing. I had no real goal, just curiosity. But what started as a simple browse became the spark for something larger. That experience introduced me to the creative potential of secondhand fashion and the broader environmental impact of what we wear. Over time, my curiosity turned into a mission. Today, through my platform “Nik’s Thrifts,” I work to make circular fashion more approachable through social media, in-person events, and a website with a customizable thrift map.
The fashion industry produces an estimated 92 million tons of textile waste each year (that’s one garbage truck full of clothes dumped every second!) Buying used clothing is one of the most direct ways to reduce the industry’s footprint. It effectively extends the life of existing garments and helps divert textile waste from landfills.
I bet as you’re reading this you’re wearing some type of cotton fabric? Maybe a new T-shirt? Did you know that producing a single cotton T-shirt consumes about 713 gallons of water? That’s a person’s drinking supply for almost three years! (Makes you think twice about what’s in your closet, right?) And cotton isn’t even the most widely-used fiber!
In a world dominated by fast fashion, few things feel better than replying to a compliment with, “Thanks, it’s thrifted!” Moments like that remind me why I fell in love with sustainable fashion in the first place, a passion that has guided both my studies and work.
From a young age, I’ve cared deeply about the environment. As fast fashion exploded and $300 SHEIN hauls filled social media feeds, my passion began shifting toward the fashion industry. After graduating from Lehigh University in 2024 with a degree in Environmental Studies, I enrolled in Columbia University’s Sustainability Management graduate program with a focus in sustainable fashion. Learning about the environmental and human costs of the industry has made it clear that eco-friendly fashion is both necessary and possible.
This is where I’ve found community.
Launching Nik’s Thrifts in January of 2025 allowed me to share my knowledge and practice with a greater audience. I built it for the person I once was: curious but uncertain, passionate but inexperienced.
Through social media content, community-led events and a website with a customizable thrift map, Nik’s Thrifts helps New York shop sustainably by exploring the city’s secondhand stores and fostering a collaborative space around eco-conscious fashion. On social media, Nik’s Thrifts is a platform for showcasing the city’s thrift stores, creative thrift flip alterations, and educational content. Organized meetups, including clothing swaps and thrift crawls, are in partnership with global nonprofit Remake. These events are great opportunities to make new friends, explore local secondhand stores, exchange clothes and participate in conscious shopping.
My Nik’s Thrifts website brings everything together with a personalized thrift map- something I’ve dreamed about for years and finally made a reality. The customizable map is designed to help you find secondhand stores that align with your interests, price point, and comfort level. New thrifters often feel overwhelmed, unsure where to go or how to start (I’ve been there! I get it!).
Consider the map a friendly guide, allowing you to input preferences such as location, style, and level of store organization. My aim is to help you feel encouraged to explore sustainably at your own pace, seeing eco-friendly fashion as more than shopping at stereotypical dare-I-say dusty, dirty thrift stores.
Circular fashion isn’t about revamping your whole closet at once, but about the small, consistent choices that build impact over time. Every thrift adventure tells a story- and now you’re part of mine.
Nikki Foster is founder of Nik’s Thrifts in New York City.
Photos Courtesy of Nikki Foster / Nik’s Thrifts
 | A guest post by
|
Avid user!!! I get overwhelmed easily and her process streamlines my shopping days and gives me clarity and confidence. 15/10, no notes.