My point is that one person is only able to produce 1 second hand item at a time. So you’re saying roughly 50% of the population gets to buy new and the other must by used. The logistics don’t make sense long-term. I wear my clothes until they have holes in them. I’m not giving that shit to a thrift store, because they legitimately won’t accept items like that. I know there are plenty of other people who do the same. Pants are actually the most consistently relatively expensive clothing item, usually costing $40-60. Because of that, I only own 3 or 4 pairs of pants and when they start getting tattered, they become my yardwork/garage work/etc pants until they legit fall apart. If everyone does this same approach, there isn’t much of a second hand market, no?
The national average wage in the US according to the Social Security Administration is $66k. People are barely able to pay rent. According to various surveys, anywhere from 40-60% of Americans are living check to check. And a quick search shows the most purchased clothing brands include Under Armour, Levi, Adidas, Nike, Hanes, Fruit of the Loom, etc. All of those btands do make items that cost $50+, but they also sell tons of shit that’s $20 to $30 or less.
Except most people aren’t buying second hand, so you’re complaining about a non-existent problem.
Edit: As an amazing proof of concept, I’m in a dive bar, saw a pair of gloves in a wicker basket of lost and found and asked about them. The bartender gave them to me, notinf they’d been here for more than a year. These are easily several hundred dollar gloves.
But if things really got to the point where many people were willing to buy second hand, there are in fact ethical brands as well for those who need new. Myself, I buy few things but as much as I can ethical either 2nd hand or from happy factories. (Though, goddamn I cannot find ethical boxers for a semi reasonable price. If you got tips…)
My point is that one person is only able to produce 1 second hand item at a time. So you’re saying roughly 50% of the population gets to buy new and the other must by used. The logistics don’t make sense long-term. I wear my clothes until they have holes in them. I’m not giving that shit to a thrift store, because they legitimately won’t accept items like that. I know there are plenty of other people who do the same. Pants are actually the most consistently relatively expensive clothing item, usually costing $40-60. Because of that, I only own 3 or 4 pairs of pants and when they start getting tattered, they become my yardwork/garage work/etc pants until they legit fall apart. If everyone does this same approach, there isn’t much of a second hand market, no?
The national average wage in the US according to the Social Security Administration is $66k. People are barely able to pay rent. According to various surveys, anywhere from 40-60% of Americans are living check to check. And a quick search shows the most purchased clothing brands include Under Armour, Levi, Adidas, Nike, Hanes, Fruit of the Loom, etc. All of those btands do make items that cost $50+, but they also sell tons of shit that’s $20 to $30 or less.
Except most people aren’t buying second hand, so you’re complaining about a non-existent problem.
Edit: As an amazing proof of concept, I’m in a dive bar, saw a pair of gloves in a wicker basket of lost and found and asked about them. The bartender gave them to me, notinf they’d been here for more than a year. These are easily several hundred dollar gloves.
But if things really got to the point where many people were willing to buy second hand, there are in fact ethical brands as well for those who need new. Myself, I buy few things but as much as I can ethical either 2nd hand or from happy factories. (Though, goddamn I cannot find ethical boxers for a semi reasonable price. If you got tips…)