STYLE BUNDLES: A NEW WAY OF THRIFTING?
By Ailish Mulvihill
The emergence of ‘thrift style bundles’ - how they have created a new business opportunity within the fashion industry, how they are affecting other sectors of the fashion industry, and the pros and cons + use of tiktok to promote these ‘style curators’ ‘ businesses.
Have you ever dreamed of having a personal stylist or a thrift store perfectly curated to your style and aesthetic – how about having both? Now with the emergence of thrift style bundles, you can get all the second-hand pieces you’ve been longing, custom to your personal style.
This innovative combination of thrift and personal styling started to spread quickly in the summer of 2021. Although it’s unclear who exactly started the trend, many thrift resellers and fashion content creators were quick to hop on, as it offered a clever opportunity to target thrift-savvy consumers looking for a personal stylist experience.
Others are still hopping on the trend, such as creator Esme Carpenter who turned her thrift and fashion-focused TikTok into a style bundle empire in just a few months, amassing over two million views on her first-ever thrift bundle post. Adding fuel to this trend, many customers started posting “style bundle unboxing” videos, which became another catalyst for style bundle creators and the concept as a whole.
Expected to double in size by 2027, the second-hand clothing market is a big one, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Although there certainly won’t be a shortage of second-hand clothing, we’ve all seen the vast increase in consignment store prices in the US due to thrift resellers. But how does this new way of thrifting affect the second-hand market?
Style bundles have definitely created a huge new sector within the industry. Due to their more selective and personalized nature when compared to traditional thrift resellers, and a growing sentiment of disdain for resellers who vastly upcharge, we may well see these thrift style bundles dominating the field. As a result, it is unlikely that there will be a noticeable increase in consignment store prices, and certainly nowhere near the hike seen when Depop resellers began to take off.
So, how does one request a style bundle? It’s surprisingly pretty easy – simply type in ‘thrift style bundle’ to your TikTok search bar, do some stalking to find a reputable creator and click on the link (usually in their bio) to fill out their style bundle request form. Additionally, many curators require you to submit a Pinterest board filled with pictures of the aesthetic or style you are looking for to help them create a successful bundle for you, so that is good to have on hand as well.
They say all press is good press, but that may not be true in the realm of style bundles. Search up ‘style bundles’ and odds are one of the first related words to come up is ‘fails.’ Although there are many reputable sellers, well-versed in the art of styling, the trend has begun to receive a bad reputation and be approached with more caution due to a few bad apples. Whether it's taking months to ship a package or creating bundles unrelated to the client’s aesthetic, there have been a decent amount of unhappy customers, and they’re not afraid to share their unfortunate experiences. Additionally, these bundles will likely cost you a hefty price, still less than traditional retail stores, but certainly more than thrifting on your own. And with the possibility of waiting half a year to not even get what you wanted, many people are skeptical of this new clothing resale model.
Although it has its pitfalls, there are certainly enough pros to this innovative idea that makes it look like it is here to stay. So, if you’ve been looking for a style revamp, start making your Pinterest boards and get on your way to your first bundle!
Have you ever dreamed of having a personal stylist or a thrift store perfectly curated to your style and aesthetic – how about having both? Now with the emergence of thrift style bundles, you can get all the second-hand pieces you’ve been longing, custom to your personal style.
This innovative combination of thrift and personal styling started to spread quickly in the summer of 2021. Although it’s unclear who exactly started the trend, many thrift resellers and fashion content creators were quick to hop on, as it offered a clever opportunity to target thrift-savvy consumers looking for a personal stylist experience.
Others are still hopping on the trend, such as creator Esme Carpenter who turned her thrift and fashion-focused TikTok into a style bundle empire in just a few months, amassing over two million views on her first-ever thrift bundle post. Adding fuel to this trend, many customers started posting “style bundle unboxing” videos, which became another catalyst for style bundle creators and the concept as a whole.
Expected to double in size by 2027, the second-hand clothing market is a big one, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Although there certainly won’t be a shortage of second-hand clothing, we’ve all seen the vast increase in consignment store prices in the US due to thrift resellers. But how does this new way of thrifting affect the second-hand market?
Style bundles have definitely created a huge new sector within the industry. Due to their more selective and personalized nature when compared to traditional thrift resellers, and a growing sentiment of disdain for resellers who vastly upcharge, we may well see these thrift style bundles dominating the field. As a result, it is unlikely that there will be a noticeable increase in consignment store prices, and certainly nowhere near the hike seen when Depop resellers began to take off.
So, how does one request a style bundle? It’s surprisingly pretty easy – simply type in ‘thrift style bundle’ to your TikTok search bar, do some stalking to find a reputable creator and click on the link (usually in their bio) to fill out their style bundle request form. Additionally, many curators require you to submit a Pinterest board filled with pictures of the aesthetic or style you are looking for to help them create a successful bundle for you, so that is good to have on hand as well.
They say all press is good press, but that may not be true in the realm of style bundles. Search up ‘style bundles’ and odds are one of the first related words to come up is ‘fails.’ Although there are many reputable sellers, well-versed in the art of styling, the trend has begun to receive a bad reputation and be approached with more caution due to a few bad apples. Whether it's taking months to ship a package or creating bundles unrelated to the client’s aesthetic, there have been a decent amount of unhappy customers, and they’re not afraid to share their unfortunate experiences. Additionally, these bundles will likely cost you a hefty price, still less than traditional retail stores, but certainly more than thrifting on your own. And with the possibility of waiting half a year to not even get what you wanted, many people are skeptical of this new clothing resale model.
Although it has its pitfalls, there are certainly enough pros to this innovative idea that makes it look like it is here to stay. So, if you’ve been looking for a style revamp, start making your Pinterest boards and get on your way to your first bundle!