Editor's Guide to Thrifting in SG
- Conscious Living Co.
- Nov 2, 2018
- 5 min read
One common misconception that Singaporeans have is that thrifting is impossible in Singapore. While it is true that thrifting options are much more limited compared to the US or Australia, if you look hard enough, thrifting is far from impossible! In this article, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of thrifting options in Singapore, coupled with a few tips and tricks of the trade that we’ve accumulated over time.
Charity shops When it comes to buying pre-loved items, you can’t beat the classic charity shop. In Singapore, we have a few, each with their own social cause.
Salvation Army Family Thrift Stores
The iconic thrift shop that most locals have either heard of, shopped at, passed by, or donated to. It’s likely that your parents regularly donate your family’s unwanted clothes at one of their drop-off points around Singapore. When you’re purchasing from them, your money goes to their diverse programmes that reach out to a wide range of needs in the Singaporean community.
With 5 locations around Singapore, Salvation Army Family Thrift Stores are the thrifting staples. You may not find the trendiest pieces here, but you’ll get some vintage gems if you try hard enough. Don’t be disheartened if you walk away with nothing even after sifting through all the racks - the fun is more in the search. Enjoy the process -- the longer the search, the more precious the reward. Bonus: at Salvation Army, you’re likely to find more than just clothes - they usually also have accessories, furniture, books, various household goods, etc.
Shop@Red Cross, Something Old Something New, MINDS Shop
I’ve personally never been to any of these, but there are a few reviews online about them from a while ago. Unfortunately, Shop@Red Cross seems to have been closed until further notice since 13 July 2018. On the bright side, Something Old Something New (SOSN), is still open and has 7 locations around Singapore. One thing to keep in mind - shops are closed on Sundays and public holidays! When you purchase from them, you are supporting the training and employment opportunities of persons recovering from psychiatric conditions.
MINDS Shop has 4 locations around Singapore, and by shopping at them you’re also, in the same vein, supporting employment opportunities of intellectually disabled persons; at the Redhill shop, you’ll also be supporting matured workers, who are operating the shop. While they may be a little out of the way, it’s definitely a good opportunity to check out the heartlands, and neighbourhoods that we probably don’t usually frequent.
New2u
New2u is pretty small as far as thrift stores go, but don’t let its size deter you. Nestled just down the road from the Singapore Art Museum, it’s a good alternative to shopping in town, but it’s definitely quite a claustrophobic shopping experience. If you go at crowded hours, it can get quite squeezy, but it has its own charm. There are many reviews online and it’s probably the most well-known thrift shop in Singapore, so definitely do a Google search and check out what other people have bought.
What I especially like about new2u is the discounts that they have. On Tuesdays, it’s student half-price days, and every month, all items go at half price on the last 2 working days of the month. The only downside is that it opens only from Monday to Friday, 10.30am-2.30pm, and the last Sunday of the month from 11am-2pm. All proceeds will go to SCWO’s (Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations) various initiatives!
Flea markets
These are the lesser known thrifting alternatives in Singapore, but you definitely don’t have to limit yourself to proper shops to go thrifting. In fact, sometimes flea markets are much more fun because they attract many more people - the crowd tends to be younger too!
Luggage Market
It’s exactly what it sounds like! Self-dubbed the biggest preloved flea in Singapore, The Luggage Market is a flea market where vendors bring luggage-loads of clothes to Tanjong Katong Complex, camping out there from 11am-6pm. It happens almost every Sunday, but be sure to check out their Facebook page for updates before heading down. Protip: if you want to beat the heat and get crazy discounts, go towards the end, when most clothes are marked down (this pretty much applies to all flea markets); but you might not get the best-quality clothes. You can, however, expect more trendy options in general because most of the sellers are youths trying to get rid of their excessive amounts of clothes. Masculine clothing options are also available, though limited.
Flea Party
Organised by Fleawhere, Flea Party happens very frequently (check for updates) at Level 6 of Lucky Plaza from 1pm-7pm, and has the same vibe and style as The Luggage Market! Most booth vendors are youths, and though it’s usually quite crowded (it can get very packed during peak hours), the reviews say that it is quite efficient! Vendors are usually willing to give discounts especially if you’re buying a few at once, since they’re excited to clear what they’ve brought.
Underground Market
I’ve personally found this to be one of the most enjoyable and rewarding thrifting experiences I’ve had amongst all the flea markets - Underground Markets tend to be more curated, as they invite various people (ranging from influencers, to photographers, to style gurus) to sell their preloved stashes (inclusive of accessories and clothes), yet the prices are still very affordable. You get to meet the people selling their stuff too! However, Underground Markets happen quite rarely, and in fact they’ve only had 10, usually in conjunction with Urban Ventures Street Parties, so check out their page for updates!
Curated secondhand
The Fashion Pulpit
The first ever permanent swapping fashion space in Singapore, The Fashion Pulpit is a beautiful space for swapping, upcycling or tailoring their clothing! It’s air-conditioned and curated, allowing for a very comfortable thrifting experience. You can purchase a membership to donate and get “new” clothes regularly (yay for circular economy), or purchase with dollars, because every item there is priced both in dollars and points! I’ve personally patronised and loved the selection there - you can definitely be on the lookout for vintage, branded and quirky pieces for a fraction of their original price. What a steal!
REFASH
With both online and offline spaces, REFASH is the largest second-hand clothing community in Singapore, advocating to change the way people buy and sell fashion. Not only does it offer guilt-free online shopping, it also has very accessible, air-conditioned offline stores, including POMO Mall, Orchard Gateway, West Coast Plaza and City Plaza. I’ve been to the outlet at City Plaza, and they had very nice pieces for under $10, and it’s usually not crowded, so you don’t have to worry about squeezing through crowds if that’s not your cup of tea. Though their selection ranges from hot-weather-appropriate spag tops to formal evening dresses, they’ve only got feminine clothing, so if you’re looking for masculine clothing, this isn’t the place for you.
Others
Swapaholic
Another alternative for swapping in Singapore is Swapaholic. These guys host huge swap parties at various locations all over Singapore - check out their upcoming events here - and all you need to do is pay a registration fee and swap your items! All items are quality-checked by Swapaholic and they also gift their Swappers surprises at the events. I’ve personally not been to a Swapaholic event, but I’ve heard it’s great fun!
Carousell
Last but not least, we have the OG Carousell! If you think about it, Singapore has always been participating in a circular economy in this sense, though not everything on the site is secondhand (lookout for sellers who bring in stocks - usually those are mass-purchased from fast fashion suppliers abroad), there are some genuine secondhand sellers. Not only is it easier because you can look for specific items through narrowing down your search terms, it is also easy to haggle (but be careful not to lowball others!)
That about wraps up our definitive list of thrifting in Singapore. Give it a shot! You’ll spend less money, waste less resources, and have a much more meaningful shopping experience. From personal experience, thrifting definitely provides for way more exciting conversation when someone asks: “Where did you get that from?”
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