Woman's reselling of thrift store clothes sparks heated debate after she posts one of her hauls
Some say it's good for the environment. Others say it's taking advantage.
Depop is a popular reselling app among Gen Zers.
At its best, fashion is a fun and empowering form of self-expression. At its worst, it is one of capitalism’s most insatiable monsters—overflowing landfills, exploiting laborers and animals, and upholding outdated and unhealthy beauty standards. The fact that many of the fashion industry’s controversial practices continue to survive seems to send a clear message: When profit is the end, it justifies the means.
This is one of the reasons why a college student by the name of Jacklyn Wells became the subject of a heated debate online.
Wells (who goes by @jbwells2 on TikTok) runs her store, Jack’s Vntg, on the secondhand fashion app Depop. Back in January 2023, Wells posted a “thrift store haul” video to her TikTok account, showing off multiple skirts, dresses and vintage coats of various styles.
While the video prompted a ton of compliments at Well’s rare finds, it also received a fair amount of backlash.
As originally reported by Buzzfeed, some people took umbrage with the fact that Wells resold her purchases online at a marked-up price. One TikTok user even noted that one patterned skirt was also available on Amazon for a similar price.@jbwells2 the first jacket is everything
♬ original sound - Jack
This prompted a flurry of criticism as to the ethical implications created by Wells and others who resell on Depop.
Some people likened it to the way landlords might buy a building at a discounted rate in a low-income neighborhood and then up the rent by exorbitant amounts to turn a profit, pushing out those who can’t afford it.
Similarly, “thrift cycling” is seen by many as a practice that limits access to cheap clothing for those who might need it most.Though Wells has addressed these comments previously in a video, she used Instagram to respond to the more recent backlash.
First, Wells explained that she herself was low-income and resold clothes as a way to put herself through school.
“At 16, I was abruptly living on my own with my sister for personal reasons…and needed to make more money somehow. I started selling thrifted clothing I already had in my closet wherever I could,” she wrote. “In college…I wasn't sure how I was going to find time to support myself financially. I started Jack’s Vntg in February of 2022, still in school, with $100 to my name, and a lot of hope. Not to sound dramatic, but it saved my life. I was able to pay my bills, eat, and survive on my own as an 18-year-old.”
She also noted that she saw thrift cycling as a more sustainable alternative to fast fashion, saying “The more educated I became on harmful clothing production, the more I grew to hate fast fashion. I started to embrace the pieces I found in my local thrift stores, which were overflowing with clothing. I began to love sustainable fashion and thrifting.”
Wells continued, “Where I live, there are 20 goodwills. All overflowing, all restocking hourly, and all sending truckloads of excess clothing to the bins. It’s terrifying to see the amount of clothing going to waste, while fast fashion continues to pollute and abuse their workers. Reselling pushes circular fashion, sustainable consumption, and helps low-income individuals earn a living wage off of endless clothing.”Others came to Wells’ defense, saying that what she did individually is no different than what existing companies, thrift stores and antique shops do on a daily basis, along with the fact that resellers often collect specific styles and sizes, leaving plenty of clothes for others to purchase.
Many even noted that—considering the time and energy that goes into sifting through piles and piles of donated clothes—that the prices are quite reasonable.
Perhaps it is easier to call out the actions of an individual like Wells over entities like fast fashion empires Shein, Nasty Gal, and Amazon…or even the very Goodwills that are being picked from, but really, this is a much larger issue. Blame it on corporate greed, an overpopulated world or the downfall of humanity, but there is a widespread disconnect between what we consume and the actual cost of those items. Regardless, whether you believe individual efforts or more systemic changes create a larger impact on our world, it all begins with conversation. And at the very least, this is a conversation that is growing.
- She bought the perfect wedding dress that went viral on TikTok. It was only $3.75. ›
- Thrift store worker finds a polio vaccine card from 1956. Sure looks familiar, doesn't it? ›
- A woman's $34 Goodwill bargain buy ends up being a priceless ancient Roman artifact ›
- Funniest finds on the Thrift Store Art Instagram page - Upworthy ›
- Woman redesigns mannequin outfits at thrift stores for free - Upworthy ›
- How designer brands like Hermes and Gucci target the poor - Upworthy ›
- Woman recreates her grandma's dress designs from the 40s - Upworthy ›
- Mom asks how many 'chuggas' come before 'choo choo' online - Upworthy ›
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12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.