Depop 101
By Charlotte Cebula
I wish that I had an interesting origin story for my passion for thrifting. Like so many other Gen Z-ers, I was influenced by social media to thrift. I grew up on the Upper East Side of Manhattan–a neighborhood known for its expensive, brand new style–so I barely knew how thrifting worked.
Where could I go to thrift? How could I assure that what I’m buying is legitimate?
My introduction to online shopping through Depop significantly changed my style, wardrobe, and conception of fashion ethics. Depop is an app used for buying and selling clothes and accessories. Like many other users, I spent a couple hours on the app, found it too difficult to find anything I would dare wear outside, and all but forgot about it.
After some prodding from a friend and a closer look at the sustainability (or lack thereof) of the brands I was buying first hand clothes from, I decided to take a more serious look at Depop. Since then, I have become an avid user. I thrifted my first item in 2019. Online thrifting makes sustainable shopping much more accessible to people who live in areas without appealing thrift stores. However, given the demand for second-hand clothes, there is often too much to sort through that it becomes impossible to decide on anything to buy. To make Depop easier for a new user, I compiled just a few tips to find wardrobe staples and define your personal style, as well as a list of my personal favorite sellers.
Research sellers. Depop has thousands of sellers and the selection can be daunting if you are not sure what you are looking for. I found a user, @MaggieKallery, who sold well-priced closet staples, and started looking through their following list for inspiration. A quick internet search of “top Depop sellers for ___ clothes” is a great place to start.
Be cautious of repacked fast-fashion. One of the traps I fell into as a new user was buying items listed as “thrifted” that actually were repacked clothes from fast-fashion companies. It’s important to avoid sellers who buy cheap from brands like Shein and resell to unsuspecting Depop users. Not only are these clothes made unsustainable, but also are sold at a much higher cost on Depop.
Curate a feed. This is where the Depop “explore” page is really helpful. A diverse array of sellers are featured here and it can serve as a useful tool to find well-reviewed shops to follow. I recommend following sellers who have a style similar to yours and using the search tool to find specific items outside of their range.
Ask questions! Sellers usually respond quickly and are excited to help buyers find clothes that will fit their size. Do not hesitate to reach out and ask for details. Depending on the shop policy, some sellers do not allow returns, so avoid buying things you will not wear.
Use the filter tool. To limit the items you see to those around your size, insert your sizes, both UK and US, into the filter tool under the search bar. This will help filter out clothes you will never purchase.
Leave reviews. After each order, Depop prompts buyers to leave a rating for the seller. I suggest always leaving a review, especially if you have no complaints! It is helpful to have a good relationship with sellers; you never know what promotions they may offer. Sellers also benefit from positive reviews, so help them and future buyers out!
Read shop policies carefully. Some sellers do not ship internationally so it is helpful to read each seller’s shop policy carefully before following or attempting to purchase an item.
I follow hundreds of shops, but, here are my top five recommendations:
@MaggieKallery Though Maggie’s shop features many low-cost basic items, she sells unique pieces that will undoubtedly spice up your closet, such as vintage sweaters that she crops by hand. She delivers quickly and all of her items are clean. The clothes fit according to her descriptions. She is my all-time favorite seller!
@Lillyybearr Lilly’s shop is the perfect place to find fun and trendy apparel. I typically go to her when I am looking for unique going-out tops. Her items fit according to the descriptions and she typically delivers within two weeks.
@IsaiahStolp Isaiah offers comfortable vintage clothing that will keep you warm and stylish in the cold Vermont winters. Though his clothes are men’s size, they typically fit my body with a somewhat baggy look.
@Kensynfin Retro Ragz shop offers a variety of colorful and unique clothing. These items will definitely yield the admiration of others. Shipping takes longer than the 1-2 week stand of other shops but I find the wait to be worth the product.
@RomanticBlue The Romantic Blue shop is my go-to for all graphic tees. Their artistic, quirky, and outright hilarious designs are perfect for self-expression in casual outfits.
As my style continues to evolve, I will rely on Depop to help me find unique and sustainable alternatives to fast-fashion.