The rise of thrift entrepreneurs reveals emerging business opportunities in circular fashion through sustainable, resale-driven practices
Kata Kunci:
thrift entrepreneurship, circular economy, digital inequality, informal economy, sustainable fashion, thrift entrepreneurship, circular economy, digital inequality, informal economy, sustainable fashionAbstrak
This study investigates the role of thrift entrepreneurs within the emerging circular economy, focusing on how they utilize digital platforms to foster sustainable consumption and navigate systemic barriers in informal market environments. The objective is to understand the socio-cultural, technological, and institutional factors that enable or constrain their participation in circular fashion ecosystems. Employing a qualitative research design, the study draws on document analysis, thematic coding, and secondary literature review, with references to recent empirical data from Southeast Asian digital thrift markets. The analysis is grounded in Digital Inequality Theory (Robinson et al., 2015), Social Capital Theory (Putnam, 2000), and circular economy frameworks (OECD, 2022). Findings reveal six core themes: (1) circular values and sustainability narratives; (2) digital adaptation and entrepreneurial bricolage; (3) informality, inequity, and exclusion from formal capital and regulatory systems; (4) social capital formation and cultural community-building; (5) identity politics embedded in thrift branding strategies; and (6) the need for nuanced and inclusive policy responses. These results suggest that while thrift entrepreneurs contribute significantly to sustainable fashion practices, they remain marginalized due to regulatory blind spots, digital divides, and limited institutional support. The study concludes that inclusive circular economies require robust policy frameworks, investment in digital infrastructure, and recognition of informal entrepreneurial actors. It calls for future interdisciplinary research that integrates policy analysis, digital economy, and cultural entrepreneurship perspectives.
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Referensi
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