The Best Online Second Hand & Thrift Stores For Current & Vintage Clothing
We’ve all been there – scrolling through clothing items online or sifting through sale racks in-store. While the deals are tempting, they’re also contributing to the demand for new clothing items and supporting the fashion industry, which is one of the most damaging to our environment. Each year, we throw away about $500 billion in clothing. Meanwhile, clothing production has increased while garment lifetime usage has declined by 36%.
We have more clothing than ever and much of it is going to your local second hand store or online thrift store. Rather than supporting the production of new products, try shopping at a thrift or vintage clothing store – and take a look at some of our other sustainable shopping tips before you head out to the store or click buy. Here’s your guide to the best places to shop second hand online.
Choosing the Best Online Thrift Store
There are tons of options to purchase second hand clothing online. Each caters to different needs – whether you want modern name-brand fashion or unique vintage finds, there’s an option out there to suit your style. Plus, most online thrift stores (other than luxury-focused sites) allow you to bid or make offers, so you’re likely to get a great deal.
No matter what online thrift store you choose, applying filters and narrowing your search will always give you the best experience. Just like at a brick-and-mortar second hand store, you might get a little overwhelmed when sifting through all the options. It’s best to have a general idea of what you’re shopping for, whether it’s a handbag or jeans. The more detailed you can be, the better luck you’ll have, so try searching for brands, colors, and cuts that you know you like.
1. Best Online Thrift Stores for Casual Clothing
Poshmark
Poshmark is like a combination of a thrift store and social media site. It allows you to shop via app or web browser and attend Posh parties, which are essentially virtual shopping parties, though you can ignore this feature and shop however you like. The site offers all things clothing, home decor, and beauty products, but it’s best known for mid-tier brands, like Vince, Lululemon, Anthropologie, and J. Crew.
Mercari
Mercari is a second hand store marketplace where you can buy and sell clothing. Whether you choose to scroll the website or shop using the app, Mercari offers everything from clothing to home decor. It’s well known for offering recognizeable brands, like Free People, Madewell, American Eagle, Loft, and more. Although it does have some designer goods, it’s best for shopping mall brands. Mercari also recently launched Mercari Local. This function allows you to shop local items only, which are then delivered to you via Uber, with no meet-up needed.
Patagonia Worn Wear
If you’re on the market for some athletic or outdoor gear, Patagonia Worn Wear is a great option. The site is owned and run by Patagonia, so it only sells Patagonia clothing. People trade in their worn goods at a Patagonia store, and Patagonia determines if they’re still in good enough condition to be sold. If they are, they clean the item and sell it on the website at a discount. If the items aren’t in great condition, Patagonia recycles them, so they never enter a landfill. I’ve also found success for mens clothing at all of these stores.
2. Best Online Vintage Clothing Store Options
Depop
Depop is an online thrift store marketplace, where people can buy and sell their clothing. It’s best known for offering quirky, alternative, and trendy streetwear vintage styles. You can choose to shop Depop via its website or app. It has a very similar layout to Instagram, which makes it fun to scroll through and shop around like you would on any other shopping website.
Etsy
Etsy is chock full of small businesses to choose from, and its vintage clothing selection is extensive. There are both newer vintage sellers with lower price points and experienced sellers that have a higher price point but provide more rare finds and history on each piece. Regardless of what era of vintage you’re looking for, you can likely find it on Etsy. Check out Nellie Baker Vintage and Girl Sells Vintage for lower price point vintage of the 1950s – 1990s. If you’re looking for pieces that are a bit more rare and high-end, consider Maeven Vintage and Persephone Vintage.
eBay
eBay is one of the oldest marketplaces online, and it’s also a great vintage clothing store. When shopping for vintage clothing, the filters are your friend. You can start by searching something like, “vintage hat,” and then narrow down your search by category, size, price, and more. You’ll also want to make sure you select “used” for the condition, to ensure you’re getting true vintage. eBay has a ton of product, so the more descriptive and specific you can get, the more successful your search will be.
It’s important to note, though, that some sellers specialize in vintage clothing, so you’ll likely pay a higher markup than if you found the same item in a thrift store. On the other hand, you might be able to find some vintage deals from sellers who aren’t as well versed in vintage clothing, which means you can get a better price than you would at a more curated vintage store.
3. The Best Online Thrift Store Options for Designer Clothes
The RealReal
There are a lot of online luxury resellers, but The RealReal is one of the oldest and most trustworthy, with over a decade in business. The site offers high-end handbags, clothing, and jewelry from designer brands like Prada, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and more. Before listing an item for sale, The RealReal does an intensive authentication process, so you know you’re getting the real thing. These items are more on the expensive side, but still a good price considering the original price tag.
Tradsey
Tradesy is a designer-focused marketplace where you can buy and sell luxury handbags and accessories. Products go through smart data analysis to ensure authenticity before being listed for sale on the site. Tradesey is also one of only a few online thrift stores that sell wedding gear, including dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and formal menswear. It even has a vintage designer section, where you can find incredibly rare items.
Why Shop Vintage and Second Hand?
We’re creating new fashion items at a faster rate than ever and using them for a shorter amount of time before throwing them away. This is largely thanks to the rise of fast fashion, which tends to prioritize low costs over using good quality fabrics and ethical labor practices. When you choose to purchase these fast fashion items, you’re creating demand for more fast fashion.
We’ve all been there – in need of a new coat or mindlessly shopping out of boredom. There’s no need to feel bad. Instead, consider shopping at an online thrift store or a second hand store next time. You’ll find that these stores carry tons of like-new (or even brand new) items. You’ll pay less than you would have when buying new, and you won’t be creating demand for new products. It’s a win-win!