How To Shop Sustainably This Holiday Season

It’s that time of the year again, gift-shopping season! Holiday shopping this year may look a little different for some due to varying costs and new budgets. Shopping for your loved ones can be a major stressor. But, it doesn’t have to be. 

Pre-loved gifts are still gifts! Sustainable holiday shopping is not only a great way to reduce your environmental impact, but it can also help you discover one-of-a-kind gifts for the people you care about. College Fashionista shares three sustainable shopping alternatives that offer the perfect holiday gifts with affordable price tags. 

01. Beni

Beni is a free browser extension that helps you find resale alternatives by providing affordable clothing items secondhand with a click of a button. The browser extension allows you to filter by size, color, brand, and resale platform to narrow your search preferences. These features are very helpful when it comes to not only finding clothes that fit the person you are giving the gift to, but that also suit their personal style. 

02. Estate Sales 

An estate sale is a sale where someone sells all or some things in their home. It’s a great way to shop locally in your neighborhood. EstateSales is a free app that can help you find sales near you and it’s the perfect opportunity to find vintage treasures and unique fashion finds. 

03. Choose Secondhand First 

Shopping secondhand has grown beyond popping into your local thrift store for cool vintage clothes. It has moved to online platforms like Etsy, Depop, and ThredUp. Shopping on apps like Etsy and Depop is a great way to support small businesses and discover splurge-worthy deals at the same time. Here are a few tips on shopping on these platforms:

Take the time to read the seller reviews on Depop because the last thing you want to do is order your gift and not have it come in on time. Be selective about who you shop with and only shop with sellers who are good at communicating with their community. 

Pro tip: The key to finding what you want on ThredUp is utilizing the filter feature to your advantage. Some brands I like to search for are Brandy Melville, Motel Rocks, Patagonia, Rampage, Reformation and Victoria’s Secret.

Happy holiday shopping! Shop sustainably and you’ll have a dazzling season.

Featured image via @join_beni. Design by Her Campus Media.

This article was originally published on December 15, 2022.