FIT CHECK: Gen I transforms the fashion landscape-for better and worse-one GRWM at a time.

• Author: Berryhill, Nora-Kathleen

In the last few years, Internet vernacular, pop culture trends, and political discourse have been given a thorough Generation Z makeover. Just as every generation channels the Zeitgeist of its time into its aesthetics, so has Gen Z transformed the world of fashion. Skinny jeans have been replaced with wide-legged denim options a la the 1990s and early 2000s, while mixing streetwear with oversized blazers and other business casual attire has produced looks that aim for seemingly effortless glam. In a quite literal passing of the mantle, a current trend on TikTok features Gen Zers posting videos of their parents rocking their kids' trendy fits.

Gen Z's arrival on the fashion scene has also introduced a new ethos of consumerism shaping how the fashion industry operates. The generation is noted for its engagement with social and political issues and--if TikTok is any indication--is eager to use consumer power to combat exploitative or environmentally toxic industries. One 2018 McKinsey & Company report on spending habits, for example, suggested that Gen Z shoppers care more about the track record and values of a brand than the label itself.

And there is perhaps no better example of this phenomenon than thrifting, one of Gen Z's latest obsessions. In contrast to the fast fashion haul videos on YouTube that many Gen Zers grew up watching, it is now commonplace for influencers to showcase their best finds "at the thrift," as well as offer suggestions about how to become more savvy at navigating the increasingly complex realm of shopping secondhand apparel.

No longer presented primarily as a budget-friendly option for lower-income folks and edgy or artsy teens, thrifting has seen a wide expansion beyond traditional big box, brick-and-mortar stores like Goodwill, St. Vincent de Paul, and Salvation Army. There has been an increase in upscale vintage clothing stores or secondhand boutiques that sell carefully curated--and often high-priced--clothing. But most notably, the last decade delivered a wave of online resale vendors like Poshmark, ThredUP, and Depop, in addition to sites dedicated to luxury goods like TheRealReal. These platforms allow users to both buy and sell secondhand clothes, and most give sellers a lot of individual freedom in determining their own prices.

According to ThredUP's annual report on the resale industry, the global secondhand clothing market is projected to grow 127 percent by 2026 to reach $218 billion. (As of 2022, it was...