Across the country and at BYU, students are turning away from traditional retail shopping and embracing the world of thrifting.
For many college students, living on a budget is just part of the deal. Lately, thrift shopping or “thrifting” is doing more than shaping spending habits. It’s shaping culture.
As students look for ways to shop smarter, live more sustainably and express themselves through fashion, thrift stores like Deseret Industries (DI) and Savers are reaching new heights of popularity.
For some, it’s just about saving a dollar or two. For others, it’s the thrill of the find.
“I’m a big-time thrifter,” Sydney Merrill, a BYU student, said. “You just never know what you’re going to find."
She also said each piece is so unique.
"It feels like winning a game when you find something cool,” Merrill said.
Beyond the low prices and unique style choices, thrifting aligns with growing concerns about the sustainability and ethics of fast fashion.
More students are becoming conscious of fast fashion’s environmental impact and questionable labor practices.
By shopping secondhand, many feel they are making a small but meaningful choice to reduce waste and support a more responsible way of consuming.
A study conducted by Lisa Peterson, Ellen Svensson and Lovisa Sundell at Linnaeus University evaluated the conscious enjoyment of thrifting among Gen Z. The results showed that environmental preservation, more than cost, drives this shopping choice.
According to the study, "these findings underscore the intricacies of Generation Z's consumer behavior, where both economic factors and environmental concerns play significant roles."
The study also explored how thrifting brings participants fulfillment, whether as a hobby or a creative outlet for curating a uniquely personal wardrobe.
“The presented results also indicate that hedonic shopping value is confirmed in a general context, which aligns with presented theories about enjoyment and pleasure and impulsive behavior based on enjoyment of shopping activities."
The thrill of thrift shopping isn’t unique to BYU — this trend is spreading across college communities near and far.
Jothan Thompson, a second year Utah Valley University student, created a pop-up vintage store called Silver Vintage.
"I’ve always loved thrifting," Thompson said.
It quickly turned into something creative for him.
"I found out I was kind of good at finding cool stuff that other people wanted,” Thompson said.
What began as selling the occasional thrift find to friends from his bedroom quickly grew.
After gaining surprising traction among friends and classmates, Thompson teamed up with two other thrifters to launch a curated vintage pop-up store.
“I realized there were a lot of students who wanted cool, affordable clothes, but didn’t have the time or patience to dig through thrift bins and stores," Thompson said. "Me and a few buddies made it official, and now we’re kind of living the dream."
Secondhand shopping is slowly creeping up to first place. You can find a thrift store just about anywhere, and people are wearing their finds with pride.
Other students like Thompson have turned their love of secondhand fashion into side hustles, flipping curated finds through social media or at campus events.
Instagram accounts dedicated to reselling thrifted items locally are gaining traction.
“I literally only go to Facebook Marketplace if I want name brands like Free People or Brandy Melville," Madison Diefenbach, a BYU student, said. "Why buy it for 25 dollars when I can get it for five dollars?”
“There’s definitely a culture here,” Eliza Johnson, a BYU student and avid thrifter, said. “It’s not just about being cheap. Thrifting lets you create a look that’s completely your own — because usually, each item you have has a story behind it.”
This blend of creativity, affordability and purpose is what makes thrifting so appealing.
In a world that feels increasingly fast-paced and disposable, BYU students are digging through Goodwill bins in Salt Lake City and racks at Savers to find pieces of the past with the style of today.
Thrift shopping isn’t just a temporary fix for empty wallets. It’s a fashion statement and a form of self-expression.
At BYU, it’s clear: secondhand is having a first-rate moment.