I started thrifting when I was in high school. It was a fun, quirky thing to do with my friends on the weekends where we could find funny t-shirts or laugh about the weird things we saw there.
Back then, I didn't think of it as sustainable fashion or conscious consumption. It was just cheap, and it was fun. I had no idea it would eventually become the foundation of everything I do professionally.
When thrifting got serious
It wasn't until my mid-twenties that I started thinking more intentionally about what I was buying and why. I was working a corporate job, trying to build a "professional wardrobe" on a budget that didn't really support it — and I kept ending up with a closet full of clothes I didn't love.
Thrift stores became my solution. I could experiment with styles without the financial risk. I could find quality pieces — real wool, actual silk, well-made denim — for next to nothing. And slowly, I started to develop a real eye for what worked and what didn't.
The turning point
The moment things really shifted for me was when I started helping friends shop. They'd come to me overwhelmed by their closets, unsure of what to keep or what to look for, and I'd walk them through it. We'd hit thrift stores together and I'd help them find pieces that actually fit their lives.
Every single time, they'd leave feeling lighter — and more excited about getting dressed. That feeling became something I wanted to create for more people.
Why sustainable fashion matters to me
The fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world. Fast fashion has made it easy to buy a lot and think about it very little — but that convenience comes at a real cost to the environment and to the people making the clothes.
Buying secondhand is one of the most direct ways to opt out of that system. Every thrifted piece is one less item that ends up in a landfill, and one less reason to buy something new.
Where I am now
Today, I run Thrift the District — a personal styling service based in Washington, DC, built entirely around sustainable fashion. I help clients build wardrobes they love without buying new, and I get to do it in one of the best thrifting cities in the country.
It's not a straight line from high school weekend thrifting to here. But looking back, it makes complete sense.
If you're curious about starting your own secondhand style journey, I'd love to help you get started.