An increasing number of Cambridge shoppers are focusing on shopping locally and sustainably as the pandemic stretches on, and the city's thrift stores are the movement's beneficiaries.  

In 2020, thrift stores were deemed nonessential businesses and were forced to close along with local restaurants and gyms. Now, as local and state governments remove pandemic restrictions, thrift stores are returning to full capacity.

Cambridge collectors, resellers, college students and people working with tight budgets are rallying behind thrift stores such as Boomerangs, located on Massachusetts Avenue in Central Square, for more reasons than affordability, says Danielle Pinl, the store’s general manager.  

“Thrift culture has gained some traction, so we are in a lucky little pocket of time; stepping back from the consumerism of fast fashion and celebrating thrift culture” said Pinl.  

Beyond the economic advantages of thrifting stores like The Garment District that sells one pound of clothes for two dollars, there has been a shift to second-hand options because it is more environmentally friendly than shopping at larger companies that mass produce products. 

The fast fashion industry, where companies mass produce runway trends and move them into the consumer market as rapidly as possible, is responsible for the $400 billion worth of clothing wasted every year which can take up to 200 years to decay, according to a 2020 article published in Science of the Total Environment, which specializes in high impact research on the environment. 

Cambridge consumers mention environmental concerns as one of the reasons why they have switched to buying clothes second-hand and have been more conscious of their purchases from large conglomerates such as Zara, H&M, and Gap.  

“I think there are a lot of negatives about mass production, so if I can buy something that has been used before, just like anything else, I would prefer to do that for less waste and less harm to the environment,” said Hannah McCurry who began thrifting after she moved to Cambridge in 2021. 

In addition to the environmentally friendly aspect of buying second-hand items, many thrift stores give back to the community. Boomerangs, a local non-profit thrift store chain in the Boston area, donates proceeds to AIDS prevention initiatives in collaboration with the Fenway Health group. 

Also, Goodwill recently launched a new initiative called “Rising Together” that aims to employ people struggling to find jobs after the pandemic.  

With the growing market for thrifting, Pinl said donations are coming in as fast as they are being sold. Also, recent trends like Marie Kondo’s KonMari method where people only keep an item if it immediately sparks joy for them, has increased donations. 

“I like the idea of second-hand stuff,” said Pauline Reck, as she sorted through second-hand glassware at Boomerangs. “I keep a box of stuff in my house that I want to donate that people could definitely use.”  

With multiple thrift stores scattered throughout Cambridge, along with shoppers who want in-person contact as they browse, many customers make quick stops in second-hand stores on their way to and from work. 

“For me it's more accessibility, I take the T every day and this is right here” said Reck, gesturing to the store around her.  

As thrift culture gains popularity and enters mainstream shopping culture, customers are also experimenting more with their personal style, and even flipping clothes, said Pinl. That describes the practice of buying a piece of clothing at a thrift store, then altering it to fit current trends. 

“There's more clowning around with clothes in a fun way, especially if you are only going to be spending four dollars on a shirt, why not try it out,” said Pinl with a laugh, “And if it doesn’t work, you can donate it back and you are still supporting a recycled system.”

Morin is a journalism student writing as part of a collaboration between the Cambridge Chronicle and Boston University.