Domenic “Dom” Stante has always been an avid thrifter.
Tired of office politics and the corporate grind, Stante purchased Urban Thrift in 2015 with the goal of creating a positive impact on the environment.
With nearly 40 per cent of gen-Z Canadians being regular thrifters according to a 2024 thrift report by Value Village, Stante’s mission is to create a trendy store where young people can find one-of-a-kind pieces.
Stante sat down with The Press to chat about thrifting, community and the role second-hand clothing stores play in safeguarding our environment.
How has the business evolved over the years?
It took me five years to realize that it’s difficult to do good things. It’s hard to monetize it. There are no government subsidies for recycling textiles. That was the reason we decided to change the business model to consignment.
Thrifting and consignment have gotten a lot more popular. The resale clothing market is growing faster than fast fashion. But there’s a danger in that. It can threaten to become corporatized or “Amazonified.” When something gets really popular, people see that they can make money with it.
How do you think people’s attitudes around thrifting have changed?
People are much more accepting of it. Whereas people used to say, “I’m not going wear someone else’s clothes,” — that’s not even an issue anymore.
The vast majority of people have embraced it, especially men. That demographic is growing faster. Men were always more reluctant than women to buy secondhand.
How do you choose what clothes end up on the shelves?
That is probably the most difficult and nuanced part of the process, because it’s our identity. How we curate the store is really important. We try to have something for everybody.
The pricing model that we use helps, because the price goes down every 30 days in our store, and that helps people on every budget. As far as the quality of the clothes, we put out very little fast fashion, if any. And it has to be eclectic. We’re known for the eclectic way we curate. There’s vintage, there’s streetwear, there’s high-end designer brands. There’s unique, different pieces, and that’s what people come to look for.
Why do you think thrift stores are important?
It’s supporting small, supporting local. We do little events where we educate people on thrift shopping and sustainable fashion. I usually end the talk with, “The most sustainable garment is the one that’s in your closet. The second most sustainable is the one you purchase out of someone else’s closet.”
Buying clothes secondhand is huge. It is the single most important thing you can do in fighting fast fashion and all of its ills: poor environmental records, trademark infringement, water pollution.
Greenwashing is a whole other subject. Companies will boast certain types of textiles as being more sustainable, but they are only more sustainable in the way they advertise it.
Beechwood, for instance, is less thirsty of a crop than cotton. It doesn’t use as much water in the growing process, but the chemical processes, the polluting of water and the labour practices, that’s just as bad. They’ll focus on this one little thing — and that’s the epitome of greenwashing.
How do you think small local thrift stores can compete when big corporations are using that kind of language?
Educating and building community. It’s the only way. Small businesses are going to be more and more dependent on the community that supports them, because otherwise they’ll just get absorbed.
What role do you think thrift stores play in the cost-of-living crisis?
Obviously, any way that you can save money is great. But when you don’t buy fast fashion, you’re also fighting the powers that are creating inequity in the world.
What is the coolest thing you have seen come through this store?
I have seen some amazing pieces. Yesterday I sold a one-of-a-kind. It’s from the only Indigenous denim company in North America. They make oiled canvas trucker jackets, and every one has its own unique Indigenous-blanket lining inside. It was gorgeous. It was stunning.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
