Thrift Shopping in London

Always wanted to go vintage shopping in London but not sure how to start or where to go?
Here are some of my top tips and locations!

Where?
Kilo Sales!
Have you ever been to a Kilo sale? If you did not know, there are a ton of vintage second-life pop ups throughout London, organised by the Fashion Revolution! As the name suggests, the price of each garment is dependent on the weight of the clothes, with a kilo usually going for £25! Tickets cost from £1.50 to £2.50 depending on the time slot and you are refunded upon any sales when you pay! Do try to be on time and get an earlier time slot as the early bird catches the worm! Some tips would be to bring a friend, a bag and wear something light so you can try on some clothes! :tongue:

Click HERE to check out upcoming kilo sales near you!
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london--12513/vintage-kilo-sale/

Charity Shops
Charity shops like Oxfam, Cancer Research, Fara and Traid are just a few of the many charity shops located along highstreets in London! Charity shops are usually more affordable compared to curated vintage shops and you can sometimes find hidden gems you were not expecting to find! Top tips would be to check out charity shops in fancier neighbourhoods as people tend to donate better quality clothing there.

Online: Vinted and Ebay!
If you prefer shopping online, try platforms like Vinted and Ebay, where you can easily get a good deal off pre-loved items! Not only is it affordable, you can even filter and search via size, colour, brand or style!

What & How?

Style
Firstly, one of the first few things you should look for when thrifting is the style and colour of the garments. Thrift shops usually arrange clothing according to colour as this makes it easier to find something you might like since the first thing you notice is the colour! Also avoid flashy styles, you don't want to be buying something that looks cool but is not something you would actually wear on a daily basis! :wink:

Fit
Secondly, if you have the chance, try on the pieces you are thinking of buying! Something may look amazing but will not fit you the way you think! Trying it on is the best way to see if it's worth it or not!.

Material
Last but not least, search for garments with natural materials like cottons, linens, silk or wool. These garments tend to be worth more and are more breathable and easier on the skin as compared to polyester blends. I would usually avoid fast fashion brands and try to search for something unique that I won’t usually find in stores. :colondollar:

Can’t wait to go treasure hunting for your next hidden gem?
Do you know of any other top tips or great places to thrift?
Feel free to share them down in the comments below! I hope this short write up gives you a little insight on how to start thrifting in London! :h:

Reply 1

username739332

Great post @Kingston Reps ! Another great way to find sustainable shops in London is on the mobile app Ganddee :smile:

Reply 2

Kingston Reps

Official Rep

Shopping Pre-loved and Vintage Near Kingston!

Aside from the usual high street charity shops and online platforms like Vinted and Depop when looking for second hand items or clothes, here are a few hidden gems around Kingston that are worth exploring! 😎

Save The World Club
Located just a short 5min walk from our Penrhyn Rd Campus, Save The World Club has an extensive warehouse which has all kinds of bric and brac, clothes, furniture ...and anything else you can think of! With a strong focused on helping local communities through food distribution, the arts and up-cycling workshops to encourage people to recycle, repair and reuse! I definitely recommend taking a peek when you have to time in between classes, you may be amazed and what you can find!
Click HERE if you would like to find out more! 🧐

Think Vintage
Although not exactly at Kingston, Think Vintage is a 30min bus ride away from our Kingston Penrhyn Rd Campus situated near Worcester Park. This vintage warehouse is said to be a thrifting spot for film/tv industries and has an amazing collecion of second hand clothes, haberdashery, furniture and bits and bobs! They also often have half price sales on specific days announced via social media platforms. I even had a senior who made most of her graduate collection using an array of old curtains she found in the store. They are opened from 7am to 3pm on weekdays and 10am to 3pm on weekends 🙂 !
Click HERE if you are interested!

In addition to facebook marketplaces and local charity shops, these places might have something you need for an affordable price when moving into Uni!
Do you know of any other hidden gems in Kingston? Where do you go to shop vintage?
Feel free to share and drop them down in the comments below! 🙂