Thrifting With Eliza Romero of Aesthetic Distance

While thrifting has always been a staple in many people’s lives; in the past decade following the Great Recession, thrifting has become a hub for people looking for interesting finds at low prices to spruce up their closet. Although Goodwill is always going to be the titan of the thrifting market, consignment chains like Crossroads Trading Co. and Buffalo Exchange have popped up alongside more independent consignment stores like “A Day N June” in Baltimore. Eliza Romero of Aesthetic Distance shops at her local consignment store in our “Resist” tank.

In the second-hand clothing world, there is a distinction between thrift stores such as Goodwill and consignment stores like Crossroads Trading Co. So what’s the difference if they both sell second-hand clothes?

Curation.

While Goodwill and The Salvation Army take in any and all donations and only gets rid of some of the most unsellable pieces, stores like Crossroads are more curated and there is a more rigorous selection process of what they choose to sell.

Both come with pros and cons. While consignment stores are more curated so you can easily find something you love, their prices are a bit higher. Thrift stores are the opposite: prices are much lower but you’ll have to spend more time searching through piles to find your next favorite piece. Either way, one of the unique features of second-hand stores is how they are reflective of the styles of the community since it is the community members themselves that donate and sell to these stores.

Whether you choose to go the traditional route or opt for consignment, these second-hand stores hold a wealth of potential finds that are off the beaten path. Want to learn more about thrifting? Read Eliza’s blog post here!