New data shows 1 in 3 Gen Z say they feel addicted to fast fashion. thredUP enlisted the actor and rising fashion star to help young people break up with fast fashion for good. 

August 16, 2022 - thredUP, one of the world’s largest online resale platforms, has partnered with Stranger Things actor, Priah Ferguson, to launch the Fast Fashion Confessional Hotline. Together, they hope to help Gen Z resist the temptation of fast fashion and embrace more sustainable shopping habits. The hotline was inspired by thredUP’s new Fast Fashion Report* that found 1 in 3 Gen Z feel addicted to fast fashion.

“At thredUP, we’re committed to inspiring a new generation of consumers to think secondhand first. Our data shows that college students want to quit shopping fast fashion, but we know it’s hard to resist. That's why we're thrilled to partner with Priah. Together, we set out to make it easier than ever for shoppers to kick the fast fashion habit and embrace a healthier way to shop." - Erin Wallace, VP of Integrated Marketing, thredUP

“I’m a huge fan of fashion and getting the latest trends, but I also care about keeping our planet healthy and strong. I’m very excited to partner with thredUP. After learning how bad fast fashion is for the environment, I decided to take a break from shopping that way. I hope this hotline inspires people to change their shopping habits and think about thrifting. Even small changes can make a big difference for our future.” - Priah Ferguson

Call 1-855-THREDUP to hear from Priah why you should abandon that fast fashion cart:

thredUP’s 2022 Resale Report** found that 59% of fast fashion shoppers say shopping fast fashion is a habit that’s hard to stop. Further, nearly 2 in 3 fast fashion shoppers say they aspire to buy more secondhand fashion.

Starting today, thredUP and Priah’s Fast Fashion Confessional Hotline will offer callers the chance to confess their fast fashion sins and get the support they need to make the switch to healthier shopping habits. When callers dial 1-855-THREDUP, they’ll hear Priah’s voice on the other line convincing them not to buy more fast fashion. They can also remain on the line to learn more about why fast fashion is bad for the planet and how thrifting can be an affordable, sustainable alternative. They’ll even get to hear Priah’s own fast fashion confession and have a chance to share their own story by leaving a voicemail. 

thredUP’s Fast Fashion Confessional Report Found that Gen Z is Hooked on Fast Fashion and Want to Quit:

thredUP’s first-ever Gen Z survey conducted with GlobalData revealed that many young consumers feel addicted to fast fashion and have a hard time kicking the habit. Survey highlights include:

• Gen Z feel addicted to fast fashion and find it hard to resist:

  • 1 in 3 Gen Z say they feel addicted to fast fashion.

  • Nearly half of college students say it's hard to resist the temptation that fast fashion offers. 

• Many Gen Z want to quit fast fashion and embrace more sustainable shopping habits: 

  • 51% of college students say they would like to quit shopping fast fashion or shop it less. 

  • The number 1 reason Gen Z want to quit or cut back on shopping fast fashion is because they want to shop more sustainably and ethically. 

• Yet, they're continuing to shop and engage with fast fashion: 

  • 72% of college students say they have shopped from fast fashion in the past year. 

  • Nearly 40% of college students scroll fast fashion sites/apps once a day or more. 

  • 1 in 2 college students watch fast fashion hauls on social media weekly or more. 

“Gen Z has shown the world that they care about the planet more than any other generation, yet they are inundated with shopping choices that make it easier than ever to mindlessly consume. This presents a unique challenge for Gen Z. With 1 in 3 Gen Z consumers saying they feel addicted to fast fashion, our data demonstrates the dichotomy young consumers face today and presents secondhand as a viable alternative for sustainable, affordable fashion for generations to come.” - Neil Saunders, Managing Director, GlobalData Retail 

Thrift Priah’s Looks Just in Time for Back-to-School: 

thredUP and Priah’s Fast Fashion Confessional Hotline debuts just as young people are gearing up for back-to-school shopping. thredUP’s Gen Z study found that 71% of college students plan to buy new clothes for this back-to-school season. Further, more than 2 in 5 college students say they buy clothes for events that they're likely to wear only once. 

Young consumers are also seeking value more than ever this season, with nearly two thirds of college students looking for more affordable apparel options when they shop now compared to previous years.

Thrifters will now get to easily swap their fast fashion purchases with thrifted ones by shopping Priah’s back-to-school looks at thredUP.com/hotline. Priah selected her favorite items on thredUP, and thrifters will get to shop similar styles at up to 90% off retail value. From outfits for class and internships to school dances and formals, Priah’s thredUP looks fit every back-to-school occasion. They also offer all of the fun and value of fast fashion without the waste. 

The Eco Impact of Thrift: 

60% of fast fashion items are produced and thrown out in the same year.*** One of the best ways we can reduce this waste and power a more sustainable future for fashion is to keep clothing in use and out of landfills. 

According to thredUP’s Fast Fashion Confessional Report, the average Gen Z shopper plans to buy 12 new apparel items this back-to-school season. If every Gen Z swapped those 12 new items for thrifted ones, we could collectively save nearly 10B lbs of C02e. That’s equivalent to planting 116M trees.**** 

Creative: Photographer: Ashley Batz, Stylist: Kah Li, Hair: Zara Green, Makeup: Danielle Mitchell

About thredUP:

thredUP is transforming resale with technology and a mission to inspire a new generation of consumers to think secondhand first. By making it easy to buy and sell secondhand, thredUP has become one of the world's largest online resale platforms for women's and kids' apparel, shoes and accessories. Sellers love thredUP because we make it easy to clean out their closets and unlock value for themselves or for the charity of their choice while doing good for the planet. Buyers love shopping value, premium and luxury brands all in one place, at up to 90% off estimated retail price. Our proprietary operating platform is the foundation for our managed marketplace and consists of distributed processing infrastructure, proprietary software and systems and data science expertise. With thredUP's Resale-as-a-Service, some of the world's leading brands and retailers are leveraging our platform to deliver customizable, scalable resale experiences to their customers. thredUP has processed over 125 million unique secondhand items from 35,000 brands across 100 categories. By extending the life cycle of clothing, thredUP is changing the way consumers shop and ushering in a more sustainable future for the fashion industry.

Sources:

*thredUP’s Fast Fashion Confessional Report: Third-party retail analytics firm GlobalData conducted a survey of 1,989 American Gen Z (ages 16-25) in June - July 2022, asking questions about their shopping behaviors this back-to-school season, as well as their relationship with and perception of fast fashion. 

**thredUP’s 2022 Resale Report: Launched in May 2022. See full report here → 

***That’s Sustainable: A New Fast-Fashion Formula, McKinsey & Company, 2017

****Green Story Inc.