A student budget may not always allow for the purchases of on-trend styles, at least at retail prices. Going to thrift stores is a more sustainable way of finding rare treasures and finds that can build a wardrobe on a budget. Located at 33933 Gladys Ave., the MCC Centre Thrift Shop is an affordable place that students can go to find awesome deals on items that are still in good condition. The shop is peaceful and spacious, with good lighting and an inviting atmosphere. They carry everything from furniture, to books, to clothing, and everything in between. I sat down with the retail manager, Karen Heisler, and the backroom supervisor, Corin Boersma, who were both very gracious to take time out of their busy schedule to accommodate a quick interview.
They both concur that a lot of students come into their store and tend to gravitate toward the vintage and the gently used clothing department, especially the Threads section.
Heisler says, “We have a fairly new department called Threads. And the students seem to love those clothes. Those fashions were clothing that I wore as a young woman and now they look to me to be old fashioned, but the students realize that there is a lot of good wear still left in those clothing, and they love to shop in the Threads department. And I think those young people will be the ones that will change our world. That’s what we can look forward to.”
Boersma agrees that many young people come to MCC Centre Thrift Shop to find fun, inexpensive things and to shop in a more sustainable, ethical way.
When asked why they think more young people are gravitating toward sustainable choices, like thrifting, than they did 20 years ago, Heisler believes that young people are worried about the environment and want to “make some changes.”
She goes on to say that, “when they start at that level, that gives me hope as an older person that things can change, and I think that they want to do that. And thrift is a very good starting place.”
Boersma noticed that more young people are aware of what social justice is, and they are more informed about fast fashion and how that affects their world. She thinks that “people don’t want to support the things that go against social justice, and so shopping thrift, shopping reused, or making your own are all ways that they can kind of take action in their own way.”
At the end of the interview, Heisler also shared that two colours of tags are always discounted in the store, one being 50 per cent off and the other 75 per cent off. There is also a student discount program on Fridays, with a 20 per cent discount on everything else that is not already on sale if you present your student card to the cashier.
After thanking them for their time, I looked at the clothing racks and saw some nice, trendy, affordable pieces, some of them starting at only a few dollars. I found a very nice TNA denim hooded jacket that looked almost brand new for $10 and a brand-new journal and calendar gift set that I ended up purchasing.
I encourage students to go and check out MCC Centre Thrift Shop, located near the historic downtown area — especially on a Friday, so they can get the extra discount. I know where I will be spending my free time on Fridays from now on.
Image: Prudence Earl/Unsplash
Rachel is working towards a BA with a concentration in English and Theatre. She has been employed at The Cascade since Fall 2021 as a Staff Writer and a Jr. News Editor. Currently, she is the sectional News Editor and enjoys meeting and interviewing people as well as taking long walks in nature. Rachel also likes to stay up to date on the latest trends and informs students through her fashion column entitled Campus Fashion.