TikTok’s fashion trends continue to change, with microtrends rising and falling within weeks. Goodwill Industries has found new light in the world of sustainable fashion and shopping. Thanks to Generation Z content creators, thrift hauls, thrift flips and secondhand styling videos flooding social media, Goodwill has become a place for all shopping needs.
Goodwill is a nonprofit organization that operates thrift stores to fund job training, employment placement, and other community-based programs for people facing barriers to employment. Since 1902, Goodwill’s mission has been “to help people reach their full potential through learning and the power of work.” Through donations of gently used clothing, furniture, and household items, they provide both affordable goods and life-changing services.
Their website can be found here: https://www.goodwill.org

Goodwill not only offers low-cost clothing for communities in need but also addresses sustainability and overconsumption issues directly tied to the fashion trends changing so consistently. Every day, creators post to the hashtag #thrifthaul or #thriftflip, leading to these videos going viral, influencing viewers to head to their local Goodwill to shop for the newest trend or style. With the continuous change in fashion trends, Goodwill sees the latest styles within weeks of them becoming viral.
TikTok has given Goodwill a unique space in the fashion world. Creators share styling tips using thrifted pieces, showcase “do it yourself” upcycling projects, and even create “come thrift with me” vlogs for followers to follow along. With popular hashtags like #thrifted and #goodwill, creators on TikTok are helping drive the popularity of secondhand shopping. In 2023, many creators began posting their “Goodwill Bins Hauls” on TikTok. Officially known as Goodwill Outlet Stores, the “bins” are where Goodwill sends unsold items from their regular retail locations. Instead of organizing clothes and goods by size or style, Goodwill dumps them into large blue rolling bins and sells the items by the pound. The Goodwill Bins trend began catching the attention of many in Generation Z, and the stores started seeing more and more young adults there.
Goodwill has embraced this trend by creating their own TikTok and Instagram content, highlighting fashion finds and encouraging sustainable shopping habits. Their TikTok strategy is simple but effective, featuring thrifted outfit inspiration, challenges, and even duets with viral creators. This helps them remain culturally relevant while spreading their message to younger generations.

In my opinion, Goodwill is doing a really good job using TikTok and other social media to stay popular and helpful. They’ve become a cool place to shop, especially for teens and young adults, because people on TikTok are always sharing their experiences at Goodwill. This has made more people want to visit Goodwill and try out secondhand shopping. What makes Goodwill stand out is that it’s not just a thrift store. They use the money they make to help people find jobs and learn new skills. When you buy clothes or donate items, you’re helping someone in your community get the support they need. That’s pretty awesome. I also think it’s smart that Goodwill creates their own TikTok videos. They show thrifted outfits, fun challenges, and even interact with popular creators. This helps them connect with younger people in a fun and relatable way.
Still, I think Goodwill could do a little more to show how shopping there makes a difference. A lot of people might not know that buying something second-hand helps fund job programs. It would be cool if they shared more stories about the people they help or showed how donations really make an impact. Overall, I think Goodwill is doing a great job of keeping up with trends while staying true to their mission. They make secondhand shopping fun, affordable, and meaningful.
Goodwill is not just a thrift store, it’s a nonprofit force adapting to the fast-paced digital world. Through TikTok, they’ve gained a fresh, fashion-forward audience that’s unknowingly participating in a larger cycle of community support, sustainability, and social impact.
TikTok’s fashion trends continue to change, with microtrends rising and falling within weeks. Goodwill Industries has found new light in the world of sustainable fashion and shopping. Thanks to Generation Z content creators, thrift hauls, thrift flips, and secondhand styling videos flooding social media, Goodwill has become a place for all shopping needs.
Goodwill is a nonprofit organization that operates thrift stores to fund job training, employment placement, and other community-based programs for people facing barriers to employment. Since 1902, Goodwill’s mission has been “to help people reach their full potential through learning and the power of work.” Through donations of gently used clothing, furniture, and household items, they provide both affordable goods and life-changing services.
Goodwill not only offers low-cost clothing for communities in need but also addresses sustainability and overconsumption issues directly tied to the fashion trends changing so consistently. Every day, creators post to the hashtag #thrifthaul or #thriftflip, leading to these videos going viral, influencing viewers to head to their local Goodwill to shop for the newest trend or style. With the continuous change in fashion trends, Goodwill sees the latest styles within weeks of them becoming viral.
TikTok has given Goodwill a unique space in the fashion world. Creators share styling tips using thrifted pieces, showcase “do it yourself” upcycling projects, and even create “come thrift with me” vlogs for followers to follow along. With popular hashtags like #thrifted and #goodwill, creators on TikTok are helping drive the popularity of secondhand shopping. In 2023, many creators began posting their “Goodwill Bins Hauls” on TikTok. Officially known as Goodwill Outlet Stores, the “bins” are where Goodwill sends unsold items from their regular retail locations. Instead of organizing clothes and goods by size or style, Goodwill dumps them into large blue rolling bins and sells the items by the pound. The Goodwill Bins trend began catching the attention of many in Generation Z, and the stores started seeing more and more young adults there.
Goodwill has embraced this trend by creating their own TikTok and Instagram content, highlighting fashion finds and encouraging sustainable shopping habits. Their TikTok strategy is simple but effective, featuring thrifted outfit inspiration, challenges, and even duets with viral creators. This helps them remain culturally relevant while spreading their message to younger generations.
In my opinion, Goodwill is doing a really good job using TikTok and other social media to stay popular and helpful. They’ve become a cool place to shop, especially for teens and young adults, because people on TikTok are always sharing their experiences at Goodwill. This has made more people want to visit Goodwill and try out secondhand shopping. What makes Goodwill stand out is that it’s not just a thrift store. They use the money they make to help people find jobs and learn new skills. When you buy clothes or donate items, you’re helping someone in your community get the support they need. That’s pretty awesome. I also think it’s smart that Goodwill creates their own TikTok videos. They show thrifted outfits, fun challenges, and even interact with popular creators. This helps them connect with younger people in a fun and relatable way.
Still, I think Goodwill could do a little more to show how shopping there makes a difference. A lot of people might not know that buying something secondhand helps fund job programs. It would be cool if they shared more stories about the people they help or showed how donations really make an impact. Overall, I think Goodwill is doing a great job of keeping up with trends while staying true to their mission. They make secondhand shopping fun, affordable, and meaningful.
Goodwill is not just a thrift store, it’s a nonprofit force adapting to the fast-paced digital world. Through TikTok, they’ve gained a fresh, fashion-forward audience that’s unknowingly participating in a larger cycle of community support, sustainability, and social impact.
SOURCES
Goodwill, Central Coast. “Embracing the Idea of Sustainable Fashion: The Goodwill Way.” Goodwill Central Coast, Goodwill Central Coast, 5 Sept. 2024, http://www.ccgoodwill.org/embracing-the-idea-of-sustainable-fashion-the-goodwill-way/?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAA9mmwaS0r1pk5mBTzFiEdyX16aCrg&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2ZfABhDBARIsAHFTxGzX7KI1vlkevdnw0hvOCIYi2HXyJmAPTNaUQZb-SdoT3riWXgJ8UGwaApRmEALw_wcB.
“Goodwill Industries International, Inc..” Goodwill Industries International, 4 Mar. 2025, http://www.goodwill.org/.

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