What sets Generation Z apart from other generations? What drives today’s youth, and what keeps them awake at night? No one can tell us better than Gen Z themselves. That's why we are portraying 24 students from Radboud University. In this episode: Maaike Hollestelle (25), student Environment and Society Studies, and Martine Cuijpers (23), student Medicine, are addicted to vintage clothing.

Maaike: ‘I bought these boots on Vinted, I think for €15. But it’s not real leather, you know.’ Martine: ‘My last purchase was a blouse for €7.50. At Kilokilo on Molenstraat.’ Maaike: ‘That’s really not expensive!’

Martine: ‘I like buying vintage clothes because then you have something original. Not a jumper from Zara that everyone already has. Sometimes you stumble on a gem, which really gives you a dopamine boost. That’s what I do it for.’

Maaike: ‘On Vinted, I sometimes take a gamble. If I don’t like an item, I just resell it.’ Martine: ‘I actually only really discovered Vinted during the Covid-19 pandemic. I enjoyed browsing through the site, and you can even earn some money with it. Every time I sell something, I allow myself to buy something new. There’s something addictive about it.’

Maaike: ‘The shorts I’m wearing are also from Vinted. I think it’s really weird to buy a new pair of trousers when you know there are already so many of them around.’

Martine: ‘When you buy second-hand clothes, you become very aware of the prices of new items. It’s true that you buy more things when a blouse only costs €7.50. Then you might as well take two. So I have to regularly clear out my closet. My clothes can then go to someone else.’

Maaike: ‘It’s really typical of our generation, though, wearing vintage clothes. I think there used to be more of a taboo around it. Second-hand clothes used to be for people with little money.’ Maaike: ‘By the way, I saw on TikTok that you can apparently get rid of that typical second-hand smell.’

Martine: ‘It’s called permastink. It comes from the sweat of all those wearers seeping into the fabric. If you then don’t wash a shirt for a long time, some types of bacteria get a chance to grow.’ Maaike: ‘Permastink. Sounds yummy, haha. Well, apparently you should soak the garment overnight in soda, and then wash it with some extra vinegar. But I haven’t tried it yet.’