Thrift shops are a great way to stay fashionable, affordable, and sustainable! Here are 12 thrift shops in Singapore for those looking to stay green and trendy.
Singapore’s shopping scene is famous for a reason – from cosy, air-conditioned malls to exciting bazaars, there’s something for everyone of every budget. Stepping away from the easy fast-fashion paradise that is today though, many Singaporeans have turned to thrift stores for sustainable, budget-friendly bargains!
But beyond the obvious fashion statements thrifting provides, opting to thrift for clothes also means you’re doing the environment a favour! Thrift shopping keeps clothes out of landfills, reduces carbon and chemical pollution from clothing production, and lowers water consumption. Which means not only will you look great thrifting, you’ll be engaging in sustainable fashion and living! So if you love rifling through preloved gems of your favourite name brands, vintage fashion, or reliving your younger days with picks of the past, you’re on the right page. Here are 12 thrift shops in Singapore for fashionable & sustainable bargains!
1. REFASH.
Inspired by his wife’s wardrobe, Aloysius Sng, founder of REFASH, realised most women wear only 30% of what’s in their closet! Many of the preloved pieces are instead thrown out for more shopping, or never used.
Today, REFASH gives new life to millions of preloved gems. With over 10 stores islandwide, REFASH’s popularity can be attributed to its drop-off system, where shoppers can drop off their preloved items to be thrifted and resold – drop offs are paid via cash or credit, too! Which means clearing out your wardrobe can come be both environmentally-friendly and financially-savvy.
With a popular drop off programme, many of REFASH’s clothes are from popular, fast-fashion name brands like Zalora and H&M, giving shoppers a chance to buy these fantastic pieces at a lower price while reducing clothing production!
2. F-Five thrift shop.
If you’re tuned into the latest pop-culture buzz, you might have heard about Billie Eilish’s visit to Singapore’s thrift shops! In a search for red, corduroy pants, the pop-star found herself leaving her sought-after item where she found it after being recognised by the public. That didn’t stop said shop, F-Five Thrift Shop, from keeping the pants, in hopes the singer will come back, though!
So if you’re looking for an international popstar-approved thrift shop, F-Five Thrift Shop is just up your alley. But beyond the hype surrounding it at the moment, F-Five Thrift Shop is famously known for its incredibly low price points. In February, the store went viral for its $2 storewide promotions! The shop is also a street-wear fashionista’s not-so-secret haven, so if you’re into the style, this thrift shop in Singapore is definitely for you.
3. Lucky Thrifty.
Shopping in town? Why not skip the queues and head to Lucky Plaza’s thrift shop for bargain deals! Lucky Thrifty sells familiar fashion items from Zara, Topshop, Adidas and more. And true to the concept of thrift stores, Lucky Thrifty’s items are sold at an all-time low despite their items being sold in great condition. From $3 storewide sales to assorted brand wears going just up to $5-$12!
What especially sets Lucky Thrifty apart as a thrift shop in Singapore, though, is its overseas wholesale and delivery services! You can send thrifted items to your loved ones overseas, or order them for yourself if you’re not in Singapore!
4. Salvation Army’s thrift stores.
When you think of thrift stores in Singapore, you think Salvation Army – and for good reason! Salvation Army’s thrift stores move beyond fashion, supplying second-hand clothes, books, and even furniture. There’s something in their stores for everyone! So much so it might just take you some time to sieve through all that they have to offer. But given the amount of options provided, who would complain?
The Salvation Army has 5 thrift stores for you to peruse all over the island, so you’ll probably be in reach of one at any time, no problem. Check out the Hope Family Store in Upper Changi, Tanglin Family Store at Tanglin, Bukit Merah Family Store in Bukit Merah, Praisehaven Mega Family Store in Bukit Timah, or the IMG Pick & Choose Store in Buangkok!
5. New2U.
First opened in May 2000, New2U Thrift Shop is now run entirely by dedicated volunteers! Selling men’s and women’s wear, children’s wear, bags, accessories, and more, you could get an entire outfit here. Plus, all proceeds from New2U thrift shop go towards the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations and the Star Shelter, a shelter for women who are victims of violence.
6. The Fashion Pulpit.
Known as a fashion swapping space, The Fashion Pulpit is a thrift shop that organises swapping events and sells some of the best preloved fashion pieces! With an aim to create a purpose-driven economy that centres around conscious consumerism, the Fashion Pulpit has started realising its mission with sustainable fashion. If you’re not able to go down for a swapping event or shop for thrifted items, though. Not to worry. The Fashion Pulpit has an e-swapping service where you can swap clothes online. All you need in one space – affordability, convenience and more wardrobe space!
7. Cherry Thrift Shop.
If you’re looking for the trendiest clothes at the most affordable prices, Cherry Thrift Shop’s your go-to. Found at Peninsula Plaza, Cherry Thrift Shop is famous for its Fill A Bag events! Customers can sign up to shop with just one bag (at $15-$20/bag) and fill up their bags with as many clothes as they want!
8. SuperWastedStore by Vintagewknd.
Started by famous vintage store Vintage Wknd, the Super Wasted Store is a store of clothes made from all things waste. You can’t get any more sustainable, thrifty or innovative than this! In line with reducing clothing’s contribution to landfills and reducing carbon footprint, the Super Wasted Store repurposes waste into trendy clothes for young fashionistas looking for something unique and novel. Recently, they’ve even dived into the fashion trend, ‘Cottage Core’ with their line of reworked outfits called ‘Cottage Cloth’.
9. NONMAINSTREAM.
If you love unisex clothing or are looking for a wider variety of trendy options, be sure to check out NONMAINSTREAM! This thrift store in Singapore sells curated vintage and preloved items from the nineties. We’re talking hoodies, pants, graphic tees and even jeans! This would be my choice for a quick thrift shopping spree in Singapore for sure.
10. Loop Garms.
Enjoy graphic tee galore with Loop Garms! This vintage thrift shop specialises in buying, trading and selling your preloved items, not to mention the graphic tees they sell that’ll bring you back in time. If you grew up on artsy graphic tees and football jerseys, you’ve got to visit this store. From ’90s Aerosmith tees to ’00s Jimmy Eat World tops, it’ll be like you’re back in your childhood days!
11. Deja Vu Vintage.
Deja Vu Vintage doesn’t just sell you preloved items from Singapore, they import secondhand items from U.S, Europe, Australia, and Japan, too! Which means you’ll have a wider choice of one-of-a-kind, premium vintage, handmade accessories, clothes and more. From casual, quirky day dresses to stunning cocktail numbers, this store is the place to go for unique gems you may not find anywhere else.
12. Something Old Something New.
Enjoy shopping for a cause? Something Old Something New, or SOSN, is a social enterprise thrift shop in Singapore that sells preloved items. The shop trains and equips persons recovering from mental health issues with retail and logistic skills to boost their employability. By supporting this thrift shop in Singapore, you’re helping the Earth as well as the community!
Staying fashionable while helping the Earth is definitely easy with these thrift shops in Singapore – especially since there are so many. But beyond that, it’s heartening to see Singapore’s thrift shops play an active role to improve the community and spread messages on sustainability while still catering to our need for novel and cool outfits. So if you’re looking for a new ‘fit to rock to your next outing, perhaps consider the earth-friendly thrift shop in your neighbourhood!
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