Are There Any Major Online Thrift Stores? Discover Our Top Picks
November 28, 2023In this article we explore if in the world of second hand fashion if there are any major online thrift stores, this article highlights the best platforms for second-hand shopping and their unique offerings.
Since the 2000s, the trend of fashion fads has become concerning. Fashion waste has made our world less safe and contributes to the global waste problem. This is probably the major reason many people choose to purchase second-hand clothing items.
What is Thrift?
Thrift, vintage, worn wear, etc, are some of the terms combined to mean items that have been formerly owned or come from a past era. Old does not mean out of style.
Thrift and second-hand clothes have provided many people with cheap options to purchase older yet classy vintage pieces Many buyers try to find for themselves places to get the best deals and quality for vintage luxury items.
As a thrifter, you may wonder, ‘are there any major online thrift stores that effectively meet my needs, and how do I find them? The answer is there, and we would like to share them with you.
Why Shop at Major Online Thrift Stores?
Thrift store at the Marine corps base at camp Lejeune,
There are various reasons why people purchase thrift. One of the common and most noble reasons is to combat the overconsumption that arises from fast fashion.
Additionally, thrift pieces come from a past era and are often rare. They provide their new owners with a unique style and fashion with which they can express themselves.
● Are There Any Major Online Thrift Stores – Vestiaire Collective
In 2009, Vestiaire Collective came to life in Paris, France. It is one of the most recognized brands in the fashion sector for its efforts to reduce the cons of fast fashion and overconsumption. Vestiaire Collective curates high-street vintage¹ items from luxury brands.
They have a product range that cares for both adults and children alike. Their online platform consists of no less than 23 million members and a luxury collection of 3 million items.
As an addition, Vestiaire Collective provides their clients with an authentication process for sold items that leaves them with an assurance that they’re getting their money’s worth.
Blue17 vintage clothing thrift store interior photo
● ASOS Marketplace
ASOS Marketplace is an online platform² that provides a sales channel for 900 businesses. It is a conglomerate of independent businesses and vintage boutiques offering vintage clothes and luxury items.
ASOS Marketplace began as an offshoot of ASOS, a thrift shop in the UK, to sell vintage items. Its online platform provides buyers with options to choose preferred eras. You can select the 70s, 80s, and 90s to buy from.
ASOS doesn’t just provide options for high-end fashion from top designers like Versace and Dior, their item range also includes sports fashion wear from brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Nike.
● Denim Library
Denim Library is an online store that offers preloved denim items to champion the cause of sustainability in the fashion industry. Denim Library was founded by Claire John, who worked with Gap since 1992 and became a director at the fashion house of recent.
Her goal was to help find a home for jean items that had been discarded. Levi’s, Wrangler, and Lee’s are some of the major brands of denim fashion wear readily on sale. Denim Library also sees to the needs of both men and women for jean materials of any era.
Lance Cpl. Lauren Lusignan, a Marine with Service Company, Headquarters Battalion, and a San Mateo, Calif., native, volunteers at the at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii Thrift Shop aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii by sorting through and organizing clothes. Marines from various units volunteered at the Marine Thrift Shop for two hours, and were tasked with different assignments.
Photo: Lance Cpl. Adam Korolev, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
● Are There Any Major Online Thrift Stores – Oxfam Shop
Oxfam Shop specializes in second-hand clothes for men, women, and children. They sell items and accessories like toys and books for children. The outlet based in the UK provides a worldwide shipping service and donates many of its proceeds to charity.
● Are There Any Major Online Thrift Stores – Depop
If you think of a consignment shop that is tech and social-media-savvy, Depop is just the one. Depop provides an online platform for buyers and sellers to connect with themselves and transact items. From vintage to retro, Depop is the online marketplace for the younger generation to find unique items to establish their own identity.
Depop’s online platform provides users with an explore page that suggests items and accessories for them to purchase. This makes it one of the most innovative online platforms for sales and purchasing.
Westchester County Thrift Shop, 1921.
Cornell University Library, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons
● The RealReal
The RealReal is one of the most respected online platforms that create a market for vintage and second-hand clothing materials and accessories. A retail outlet on a noble cause for sustainability, The RealReal tries to curb the impact of fast fashion waste on our environment.
You’re sure to find preloved items of the best quality from popular fashion brands like Versace, Galtier, and Louis Vuitton for both men and women alike. Vintage accessories, like shoes and bags, are included in the product range³.
They also use a rigid authentication procedure for items before being shipped to their sellers. Although some of the items may be considered high in cost, it doesn’t take away the awesome service involved with them.
Mission Thrift and Factory Store, San Francisco.
JCruzTheTruth, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
● Are There Any Major Online Thrift Stores – ThredUp
Starting in San Francisco in 2009, ThredUp is an online consignment store that sells second-hand clothes. ThredUp provides a clothing store for thousands of vintage pieces to purchase from. Although it started as a sales point for the owner, their specializations are in women’s and children’s clothes.
ThredUp is hailed as one of the biggest online platforms for the resale of used clothes within the US. As a takeaway, you’ll be interested to know that ThredUp gives up to 90% discount on premium items for their customers.
● Rokit Vintage
Since 1986, Rokit Vintage has been a force to reckon with in the UK as a thrift shop for preloved buyers. Rokit started as a vintage shop for Denim wear on the famous Camden street in London. Their items range from high-street fashion brands to iconic sportswear for both men and women⁴.
Rokit Vintage offers a free delivery package for purchase items worth up to £50 and above.
Are There Any Major Online Thrift Stores – Conclusion
All over the world, the goal of fashion sustainability has encouraged people to patronize thrift items. But beyond physical shops and stores, online platforms can now provide all and sundry options for purchase. These e-commerce sites allow buyers and sellers alike to experience price-point shopping. Authentication methods are also involved to ensure the safe purchase and delivery of intact items. With these major online thrift stores, you’re guaranteed a fantastic second-hand shopping experience.
References
[i] https://www.blue17.co.uk/vintage-blog/amazing-80s-womens-clothes/
[ii] https://www.blue17.co.uk/vintage-blog/vintage-workwear-for-sale/
[iii] https://www.blue17.co.uk/vintage-blog/where-can-you-find-the-best-80s-boots-in-london/
[iv] https://www.blue17.co.uk/vintage-blog/spring-summer-2015/
