The mobile app Depop has recently taken the fashion industry by storm. Depop is a mobile app that allows users to buy and sell secondhand items, such as clothing, accessories, shoes and other unique items. It is a peer-to-peer marketplace that operates similarly to social media, which is one of the main reasons for its rise to fame.
Depop was founded in 2011 but struggled to become a big app due to its competition like Ebay, thrifted, Craigslist, and many more. Due to all the competition, Depop remained a small online store that many were unaware of.
In recent times, the practice of thrift shopping has gained widespread popularity among the younger generation, who have embraced it as an art form and brought it to the spotlight.
Thrift shopping, also known as thrifting, is the act of shopping for secondhand items, usually at thrift stores or other resale shops. It is a sustainable and budget-friendly way to shop, as well as a way to find unique and vintage items. Many people enjoy the thrill of the hunt when thrift shopping because it is always unknown what you may find.
This adds to Depop’s rise in fame because the app can be considered an online thrift store. Depop is a great platform for fashion enthusiasts and collectors to sell and buy unique clothing pieces that may no longer be manufactured or available in stores. By listing clothing items on Depop, users can earn some extra cash and contribute to a more sustainable fashion industry by promoting the reuse and recycling of clothing items.
In an interview with junior Rodelio Belarde, he said, “Depop is a great app- my favorite thing about the app is that I can sell a variety of items and it allows clothes to have a new home instead of being thrown away.”
According to an article by Green America, “On average, 700,000 tons of used clothing gets exported overseas and 2.5 million tons of clothing are recycled. But over three million tons are incinerated, and a staggering 10 million tons get sent to landfills.”
The incineration of waste leads to environmental problems such as air pollution, and releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.
In the end, Depop’s rise to fame can be attributed to its unique blend of elements from social media and e-commerce, as well as the growing popularity of thrift shopping and sustainable fashion. By providing a platform for people to buy and sell unique clothing items, Depop has not only contributed to a more sustainable fashion industry, but has also created a community of fashion enthusiasts and collectors.
