what we do
give back to the community
Proceeds from our Bargain Bin program and select sales go directly toward supporting local community initiatives.
power a community marketplace
We provide a curated platform for sellers to earn from closet cleanouts—managing everything from storage to listings, shipping, and customer service.
keep clothes out of landfills
By giving pre-loved fashion a second life, we help reduce textile waste while offering shoppers a diverse range of styles and departments.
reduce the demand for new production
Every secondhand purchase helps lower the environmental toll of new clothing—cutting down on CO₂ emissions, water use, pollution, and excess waste.
meet the founders
Hi, we’re Angie Salih and Jamie Somerton — co-founders of People’s Thrift. We’re lifelong friends with a shared love of thrifting, a passion for grassroots entrepreneurship, and a drive to reimagine what secondhand can look like in the digital age. At a pivotal point in both our careers — and in the midst of a challenging job market — we chose to create the kind of company we’ve always wanted to be part of: one that’s rooted in community, grounded in ethical business practices, and committed to conscious consumption.
fast facts
The fashion industry uses around 93 billion cubic meters of water annually, about 4% of all freshwater withdrawal globally.
Water Useage
In North America, the average person throws away 81 pounds of clothing annually, most of which ends up in landfills or incinerators.
Textile Waste
The fashion industry accounts for 8–10% of global carbon emissions — more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined.
Carbon Emissions
Around 70% of microplastics found in the ocean are fibers originating from clothing, synthetic textiles, and fishing gear.
Microplastics
Toxic chemicals from dyes and treatments are often dumped into rivers, impacting ecosystems and communities.
Chemical Pollution
Fast fashion often relies on underpaid labour in developing countries, sometimes in unsafe conditions.
Human & Ethical Costs
mission &
values
We are committed to being part of the green solution by diverting perfectly good apparel and accessory items from landfills and giving them a second life. The pendulum has swung too far out in our pursuit of abundance—mass overproduction of fast fashion is flooding landfills and devastating our environment. We believe the pendulum must swing back towards a model of conscious consumption: use and reuse, celebrating the quality and craftsmanship of the goods we already have.
We make secondhand clothing shopping seamless and accessible, bridging the gap between merchants and buyers through an effortless, mutually beneficial exchange. Our goal is to make buying and selling pre-loved goods the easiest, most responsible, and most affordable choice, for everybody.
We are a grassroots business that prioritizes making a living wage for our team over profits, without exploiting others for labour along the way. Our philosophy is rooted in balance—we value our mental and physical well-being while believing in the importance of meaningful, fair work. Our goal is to create a sustainable livelihood while making a positive impact on the environment and our community.
discover quality secondhand fashion online—variety, fair prices, for all!
People’s Thrift is a Canadian online thrift marketplace that makes secondhand fashion shopping effortless. We curate quality pre-loved styles at fair prices—variety, affordability, and sustainability for all, from the closest of merchants across the city. Be part of the shift to thrift, meaning offsetting buying new for the good of our planet and our wallets. Have fun in the thrill of discovery with new items weekly, and search the Bargain Bin for even greater deals.
Over 203 billion pounds of textile waste is discarded globally each year, with a significant portion ending up in landfills . That’s the equivalent of a garbage truck full of clothes being dumped every second.
THE PROBLEM
We’re on a mission to keep perfectly good fashion out of landfills by giving it a second life. People’s Thrift promotes conscious consumption—choosing secondhand over new whenever possible, rejecting exploitative labour practices and unethical manufacturing of buying new, and celebrating quality, style, and craftsmanship of what already exists. We look forward to providing you with a new thrifting experience.
our story
earn with us—join the merchant program