I was just minding my own business, digging through the linen bin at my local thrift store, hunting for vintage tablecloths to turn into cute summer tops. You know the drill—breathable cotton, fun retro prints, the perfect upcycle project. I had my stack in hand, ready to check out, when the older woman behind the counter narrowed her eyes at me.
“You one of those TikTok women?” she snapped.
I blinked. “Uh… I sew?”
She didn’t soften. “So you’re gonna cut these up for content, huh?”
I froze. I had filmed a few thrift-flip tutorials before. But before I could answer, she kept going: “You know we used to sell these tablecloths for $2 .Now they’re $ because of people like you. The ladies who actually use them for their kitchens can’t afford ‘em anymore.”
Oof.
The Awkward Truth About Thrift Flipping
I left with my tablecloths (and a side of guilt), but her words stuck with me. Because she wasn’t wrong.
Thrift stores have gotten more expensive. What used to be a budget-friendly resource for low-income families is now a hunting ground for crafters and resellers. And yeah, some of us are part of the problem.
“But I’m Being Creative!” (…At Whose Expense?)
I used to think thrift-flipping was the ultimate ethical craft—breathing new life into old things! But after that day, I started noticing things:
The linen section, already picked over and just basic fabric left, suitable for pets or rags only.
Vintage linens priced like boutique items because stores know influencers will pay. Even dedicated racks to “Vintage”
Local Facebook rants from moms frustrated that their kids’ back-to-school thrift options are gone.
How to Flip Without Being Part of the Problem
I still thrift-flip… but differently now:
I skip anything still usable as-is (leave the good stuff for people who need it).
I focus on truly doomed items (stained, torn, or moth-eaten—stuff no one else would buy but these are actual hard to find as I have since been told these items are throw out and hardly ever make it into the store anyways.
I donate my scraps (quilt guilds & schools will take fabric scraps for projects).
That thrift store employee wasn’t mad at me—she was mad at what thrifting has become. And honestly? I get it.
So yeah, keep sewing. Keep upcycling. But maybe… let’s leave the vintage tablecloths for grandmas who actually need them.
What do you think? Have you ever had a thrift store wake-up call? Let’s chat in the comments—no judgment
Trending Products
