Secondhand shopping, once stigmatized, is going mainstream. 'It's better for the environment, my wallet and morals.'
CHICAGO - When Julie Ghatan opened Dovetail in 2008, she could tell when customers entered her boutique in Chicago's Noble Square neighborhood without realizing much of the clothing and accessories were vintage, not new merchandise.
"You could just see it click on their faces," she said. They'd walk right back out.
That doesn't happen anymore. Buying secondhand, once stigmatized, is going mainstream. And here's how you can tell: Department stores want in on it.
Shoppers like the thrill of scoring a deal or one-of-a-kind find, or want to shop without worrying about the apparel industry's environmental impact. Others are both buyers and sellers, knowing each bargain purchase can be resold to make space in their wallet and closet for something new.
"It's better for the environment, my wallet and morals,"
