Text by KATHERINE CHENG and AUDREY KERNICK
Photos by KATHERINE CHENG
SANTA CRUZ AVENUE
EXPLORING THRIFT STORES IN MENLO PARK
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USTAINABLE FASHION has gained notable popularity in recent years, especially among teenagers. With the fashion industry serving as one of the largest contributors to world pollution, there is a clear need for more environmentally conscious buying on the part of consumers. Though some might misunderstand “sustainable fashion” as high-end stores that sell organic or vegan clothing, buying second hand clothing is an affordable alternative that fits the bill. Many teens have turned to the practice of purchasing clothes at second hand shops and thrift stores in the vein of shopping more sustainably for a manageable price. While blocks of flashy thrift stores are often found in big cities, such as the famous San Francisco intersection of Haight and Ashbury Street, the Peninsula has its own cluster of second-hand stores that are both cheaper and more
accessible. Scattered among newly opened bakeries and high-end clothing stores, Santa Cruz Avenue in Menlo Park is home to three neighboring thrift stores, abundant with racks to explore. American Cancer Society Discovery Shop Eye-catching sale racks and carts of paperbacks grace the outside of the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop, located at 748 Santa Cruz Ave., beckoning visitors to peek inside. Once through the threshold, the Discovery Shop is a swirling world of different colors, textures, jewelry and knickknacks to sift through. To the tune of cheery Hawaiian music, patrons can browse anything from silky scarfs to well-loved denim, along with funky shoes and earrings. Along with comfortable clothes, the Discovery Shop offers affordable prices.
RAINBOW RACKS Aisles of gently used clothing line the walls of the Goodwill Boutique. The thrift shop, located at 711 Santa Cruz Ave., is home to a substantial selection of products ranging from sports jerseys to books. Racks are sorted based on formality, from casual athletic atire to high-end designer pieces. “Thrift stores are an easy way to shop for clothes while helping the environment,”Palo Alto High School junior Trisha Razdan says.
54 FEBRUARY 2020
