Vintage Purchases and the Value of a Vintage “Story”
Folks like Dorothy Nicol carve out their own stories by building a second-hand wardrobe. Nicol has spent years collecting vintage items which she later shared with audiences in her town’s Masonic hall. The material, some of which dates back to the 1800s, includes among other items, a love of flappers. Like many who invest in […]
What Benefits Can Buyers Find in Mixed Rags?
When we use the term ‘mixed rags’ or ‘institutional clothing,’ we are referring to a category of clothing that is considered ‘used’ that either was not sold in a resale or was not suitable for resale. That means that these items were either store returns, apparels and household rummages from thrift store locations or […]
The Financial and Environmental Benefits of Giving Life to Old Materials
According to the Huffington Post and the U.S Department of Commerce, thrift stores are increasingly becoming big business, while retail store sales are dropping overall. Ithaca.com reported that these sales prove that, “there is a ready market of buyers willing and able to pay large sums of money to purchase used clothing, shoes, and textiles.” This […]
The Benefits of Shopping the Thrifty Way (for Shoppers and for Thrift Shops)
Thrifty shoppers are always looking for great bargains and the best deals. It might then come as no surprise that the best location to find those two things are in your local thrift stores and consignment shops! Thrift stores have become a viable alternative to big box stores and malls where the items may be […]
Reducing Waste through Repurposing Vintage Items
For some buyers, once an item, fabric, or accessory has outlived its purpose or the fashion of the period — it becomes useless and worthy of only one place: the trash. For others, repurposing vintage items, especially those that have value, can be an expensive venture. Not only might it be costly to remake antiques […]
What You Need To Know About Credential Clothing
In early November 2017, Emily Farra of Vogue Magazine reported that even those in the high fashion industry see the value in the used clothing market particularly as it relates to the environment. “If you’re concerned with the billions of brand-new clothing items being produced each year (and you most definitely should be), […]
Rag News: December 2017
Tools of the Trade for Thrift Stores In order to maximize salvage revenue, a thrift store needs to have the best equipment for packaging and storing salvage product for a full 53’ trailer or 40’ HC container load. The following is a list of the required tools that can’t be missed in any warehouse: Baling […]
What You Need to Know About Purchasing A New Pair of Vintage Shoes
It is true that the older the shoe, the more likely there may be damages or fragile fabric that is ready to split and tear — and therefore in need of inspection, repair and correction. However, like most vintage fashions, “worn” doesn’t mean “worn out.” This is why its always a good idea to check […]
Used, Vintage, Retro, Second-Hand: What’s the Difference?
What’s the difference between vintage clothing and second-hand clothing? And antique, is that also a thing? In the clothing and garment industry, these terms have distinct differences. They all fall under a general umbrella of “used” clothing, in that they are not “new” but have been “previously owned” and indeed probably “worn” to one degree […]
Book Recycling: Giving Old Books New Life
Even in the digital age, there is still something about holding a book in your hands and turning pages that excites the senses and encourages a love for reading. In the United States, an estimated 2 billion books are published each year which means that a large number of trees are getting cut down to […]
