DETROIT – Earth Day serves as a reminder to reduce, reuse, and recycle for a greener planet. While many people associate this with tossing plastics into recycling bins, the concept can be much more exciting.
One great way to give items we no longer want a second life is by focusing on the reuse aspect, especially when it comes to shopping.
The next time you feel the urge to shop or need something for a specific event, consider resisting the temptation to buy something new. Instead, try visiting a thrift store or a resale shop.
Some people excel at thrift shopping, effortlessly uncovering hidden gems in large stores. However, the experience can sometimes feel overwhelming, and there can be a stigma associated with buying previously worn clothing.
Miriam Pranschke, owner of Boro, a vintage resale shop in Corktown, shared her insights on the subject. “I think there are a variety of resale shops,” she said. “Some have a lot of goods, and they’re doing their best to provide a lower-cost service to the community. I think that’s where the stigma comes from. Your typical thrift store has a ton of items, but they probably don’t have a lot of quality control either. That’s why there are more curated vintage shops now, which try to do a little bit more for each garment.”
Boro has been a staple in Detroit for eight years, celebrating clothing with history and purpose. Pranschke explained, “We write little notes on the back of our items, on the tag, saying, ‘Oh, this was her grandmother’s, and she wore it to...’ It’s kind of nice to help people remember why they have that piece of clothing and pass that story along to others. It gives a lot more meaning to what you’re wearing in the getting-dressed process.”
Pranschke noted that much of today’s clothing lacks meaning and is often cheap in more ways than one. Many people wear an outfit once, post it on social media, and then discard it, leading to a cycle of waste. “I think we’ve all seen the images of tons of trash building up in different countries when we donate our items,” she said. “It feels good to donate, sure, but there’s also a problem with having too many things that have already been made. Vintage shops help recirculate those fashions that have already been created.”
Boro operates as a consignment shop, allowing individuals to bring their items and earn 40% of the selling price if their item sells. Additionally, renting fashion is another form of recycling. “Instead of having something that lives in your closet that you might never need again, you can rent something for two days and then bring it back,” Pranschke explained.
At Boro, shoppers will find mostly women’s fashion, with a few men’s items. The shop is located in a section of Corktown recently dubbed “Vintage Village,” which features other resale shops like Mama Coo’s, Sonic Juju, and Catalog Detroit. “They do old shirts and old denim with a workwear focus,” Pranschke said. “Really old, curated vintage, which is awesome.”
Thrifting is a skill that can improve over time. This Earth Day, consider trying it out for the first time at a place like Boro. “If you’re nervous about thrifting and have never been to a thrift store, I would suggest starting with a more local, curated vintage shop,” Pranschke advised. “We have a ton of those here in Detroit and in Metro Detroit. From there, you can experiment with larger thrift stores.”
