5 Ethical Thrifting Options This Earth Month
April 2025 marks the 55th anniversary of Earth Month. What initially started as an environmental awareness day in the United States is now an annual celebration across the world. Over the years, billions of people have joined forces to continue educating while advocating for policies that better protect communities, habitats, and wildlife. This year, the theme—Our Power, Our Planet—calls for an increase in renewable energy generation.
While you can organize a demonstration or sign the earthday.org petition to amplify the message, you can also make a meaningful impact by doing something Seattle is well known for: supporting secondhand fashion.
Fashion is one of the most environmentally destructive industries, accounting for over one billion tons of carbon emissions per year. Transitioning to renewable energy can not only improve air quality and land preservation, but also save companies money by lowering the cost of power. According to the Global Fashion Transparency Index, the majority of companies in fashion today do not disclose their efforts toward renewable energy advocacy. Without transparency, it is difficult to know what work, if any, is being done.
Committing to invest in local thrift stores for at least a month is one way to promote energy conservation as it keeps accessories, clothes, or shoes that have already been made in circulation for longer within your city, town, or state. It may seem like a small contribution, but supporting secondhand fashion—whether shopping or sharing information about the topic—has the potential to greatly reduce energy consumption in the biggest areas of use, namely textile production and supply chain transportation. In fact, extending the life of clothing items by only nine months has been shown to decrease carbon, waste, and water footprints by 20 percent.
NASA’s image of Earth
via Unsplash
If you need help getting started, here is a roundup of five impact-driven thrift stores in Seattle to add to your shopping or donation list:
Assistance League of Seattle Thrift Shop
Wallingford
The Assistance League of Seattle Thrift Shop funds education for students in King County. Its mission is to strengthen community by welcoming donations and volunteers. The thrift store provides used yet clean clothes, shoes, jewelry, and more, with the exception of electronics, furniture, and toys.Labels Consignment
Phinney Ridge
Labels Consignment carries high quality, modern styles at affordable prices. It is family-owned and operated with a focus on reducing waste in the community through resale and recycling. Unsold inventory in good condition is donated to Aurora Commons, a non-profit organization that serves unhoused people in the area.Out of the Closet Thrift Store
Capitol Hill
Out of the Closet Thrift Store centers HIV prevention and treatment. It sells a wide range of items, including clothing and accessories. For every dollar spent, 96 cents go directly to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.Restyle for Ryther
Ballard
Restyle for Ryther is a volunteer-run thrift store dedicated to lifting up young people in need. It sells gently used accessories, clothes, shoes, and more. All proceeds go toward therapeutic services administered by the non-profit organization Ryther to address eating disorders, mental health challenges, and substance use.Two Big Blondes Plus Size Consignment
Central District
Two Big Blondes is a family-owned thrift store that offers high quality, plus size clothing. It also hosts community events like film screenings, mending services, and upcycling workshops to educate about clothing care, fit, and sustainability. A portion of proceeds are donated to Africatown Community Land Trust and Duwamish Real Rent.
