Thrifting can be a wonderful way of shopping sustainably and affordably while finding one-of-a-kind gems. However, as the popularity of thrifting rises, so too do the prices of these once-cheap clothes, as well as unsustainable market practices. Because of the growing demand for second-hand clothing and goods, second-hand stores have started importing bales of clothing from the global North. The importing of bales of clothing to Africa has become a huge problem, for many reasons.
Firstly, it is a way for the West to get rid of its waste without the responsibility of dealing with the cause: the unnecessary overproduction of clothing. The clothes that come in bales are often low-quality and made from synthetic fibres that degrade quickly, thus adding to textile waste. Garments are often outdated, damaged or unwearable, ultimately being dumped in landfills or burned, which contributes to pollution across Africa while the West avoids the consequences of its waste.
The commercial importation of bales of most clothing categories is prohibited in South Africa. However, outer garments such as jackets and coats are excluded from this ban, so we do receive some of this clothing waste. Thrifting doesn’t solve the problem of overconsumption; it just shifts it. So while it’s important to be mindful of where and how you thrift, we’re not saying not to thrift at all.
Here’s our guide to thrifting in South Africa, along with some definitions to help you better understand thrift and second-hand stores.
Definitions
Thrift store
A store selling second-hand goods such as clothing, books and bric-a-brac, usually for charitable purposes. The term ‘thrift’ has become synonymous with hyper-affordable second-hand and vintage (clothing, mostly) shopping.
Vintage store
Specialised stores that sell vintage clothing. ‘Vintage’ refers to items that are between 50 to 100 years old. Because these stores are specialised and more curated they are usually more expensive.
Retro
This refers to clothing or items between 15 and 50 years old (recent nostalgia). The term is most commonly used to describe styles from the 1960s and 1970s.
Boutique second-hand store
Smaller curated shop, usually specialised and more intentional for a specific shopping experience with more attention to detail. Higher price points usually and recognised or luxury brands.
Second-hand clothing store
Clothing stores that sell used, second-hand and preloved garments for a private profit.
Cape Town
Second Hand Rose in Claremont
Little King Charity Shop
○ Category: Thrift
○ Price Point: Cheap (estimate: under R100)
○ Address: Nazareth House, 1 Derry Str, Vredehoek
○ Instagram/Website: @littlekingcharityshop
Help the Rural Child
○ Category: Thrift
○ Price Point: Cheap (estimate: under R100)
○ Address: 369 Main Rd, Sea Point and 6 Victoria Rd, Mowbray
○ Instagram/Website: @helptheruralchild
U-turn
○ Category: Thrift
○ Price Point: Cheap (estimate: under R100)
○ Address: 15 Burg St, Gardens and 41 Lansdowne Rd, Claremont
○ Instagram/Website: @uturncharityshops
TEARS
○ Category: Thrift
○ Price Point: Cheap (estimate: under R100)
○ Address: Cnr Main Rd and, Recreation Rd, Fish Hoek Thrift
○ Website: tears.org.za/thrift/
Glitterati
○ Category: Vintage
○ Price Point: Expensive (estimate: from R500)
○ Address: Antiques Arcade, 127 Longstreet, Cape Town CBD
○ Instagram: @glitterati_vintage
Second Hand Rose
○ Category: Vintage
○ Price Point: Expensive (estimate: from R500)
○ Address: Shop 8, Grove on the Square, Warwick St, Claremont
○ Instagram: @secondhand_rose_ct
Oasis
○ Category: Thrift
○ Price Point: Cheap (estimate: under R100)
○ Address: Imam Haron Rd, Claremont
○ Instagram: @oasischarityshopscapetown
Slow Fashion Collective
○ Category: (Second-Hand)
○ Price Point: Moderate to expensive (estimate: from R200)
○ Address: 89 Lower Main Rd, Observatory
○ Instagram: @the.slowfashioncollective
Vintage with Love
○ Category: Thrift
○ Price Point: Moderate to expensive (estimate: from R200)
○ Address: 46A Canterbury St, District Six
○ Instagram: @vintagewithlovesa
Joburg and Pretoria
Hospice Wits in South Kensington and Benmore
Bounty Hunters Charity Shop
○ Category: Thrift
○ Price Point: Cheap to moderate (estimate: from under R100 to R200)
○ Address: 71 4th Ave, Melville
○ Instagram: @bounty_hunters_melville
Conrad Collective
○ Category: Second-hand
○ Price Point: Moderate to expensive (estimate: from R200)
○ Address: 94A Conrad Dr, Blairgowrie, Randburg
○ Instagram: @conradcollective
ThriftyWays
○ Category: Boutique
○ Price Point: Moderate to expensive (estimate: from R200)
○ Address: 18 Gleneagles Rd, Greenside, Randburg
○ Instagram: @thriftyways
Wizards Vintage
○ Category: Vintage
○ Price Point: Expensive (estimate: from R500)
○ Address: 24 3rd Ave, Parktown North, Randburg
○ Instagram: @wizards.vintage
Fabrik Hunter
○ Category: Boutique
○ Price Point: Expensive (estimate: from R500)
○ Address: Stanley Studios, 39, Braamfontein
○ Instagram: @fabrik.hunter
Gully Closet
Category: Thrift
○ Price Point: Expensive (estimate: from R500)
○ Address: 308 Fox St, Jeppestown
○ Instagram: @gully_closet
A Thrift in Jozi
○ Category: Thrift
○ Price Point: Expensive (estimate: from R500)
○ Address: 61 4th Avenue Melville
○ Instagram: @athriftinjozi
Hospice Wits
○ Category: Thrift
○ Price Point: (estimate: under R100)
○ Address: Corner 11th Street and Elizabeth Avenue, Benmore, sandton and 163 Queen St, South Kensington
○ Website: hospicewits.co.za/our-shops/
Daddy Cool
○ Category: Second-hand
○ Price Point: Cheap to moderate (estimate: from under R100 to R200)
○ Address: 1289 Heuwel Rd, Zwartkop, Centurion
○ Website: daddycoolclothing.co.za/
Frayznix Rack
○ Category: Boutique
○ Price Point: Moderate to expensive (estimate: from R200)
○ Address: 34 Chiswick St, Brixton
○ Instagram: @frayznix_rack
Greendale House
○ Category: Thrift
○ Price Point: (estimate: under R100)
○ Address: 199 Louis Botha Ave, Orange Grove
○ Instagram: @greendalehousethriftshops
Vintage with Love
○ Category: Thrift
○ Price Point: Moderate (estimate: from R200)
○ Address: 102 Corlett Drive, Melrose
○ Website: vintagewithlove.co.za/
Durban
Queensburgh Cheshire Homes in Pinetown
Queensburgh Cheshire Homes Charity Shop
○ Category: Thrift
○ Price Point: (estimate: under R100)
○ Address: 890 Main Rd, Moseley, Pinetown
○ Instagram/Website: n/a
St Giles
○ Category: Thrift
○ Price Point: (estimate: under R100)
○ Address: 4 Prince St, South Beach
○ Website: saintgiles.org.za/
Kloof SPCA
○ Category: Thrift
○ Price Point: (estimate: under R100)
○ Address: 29 Village Rd, Kloof
○ Instagram: @spcakloofandhighway
Hidden Treasures
○ Category: Thrift
○ Price Point: (estimate: under R100)
○ Address: 37 Maryvale Rd, Dawncliffe
○ Instagram: @hiddentreasurecharity
2080 Vintage Thrift Shop
○ Category: Second-hand
○ Price Point: Moderate to expensive (estimate: from R200)
○ Address: 133 Dr Yusuf Dadoo Street
○ Instagram: @2080vintage_thriftshop
The Thrift Collection
○ Category: Second-hand
○ Price Point: Moderate (estimate: from R200)
○ Address: 1 Denham Pl, Glenwood
○ Instagram: @thethriftcollection
Second Chance
○ Category: Second-hand
○ Price Point: Moderate (estimate: from R200)
○ Address: Old Main Rd, Umhlali, Ballito
○ Instagram: @secondchanceumhlali
Port Elizabeth and Gqeberha
Ons Winkel in Port Elizabeth
Wagtails Charity Shop
○ Category: Thrift
○ Price Point: (estimate: under R100)
○ Address: 128 Albert Rd, Walmer
○ Instagram: @wagtailscharityshopawspe
The Ability Shoppe
○ Category: Thrift
○ Price Point: (estimate: under R100)
○ Address: 82 Cape Road, Millpark
○ Website: www.charitysa.co.za/ability-shoppe.html
Vintage PE
○ Category: Second-hand
○ Price Point: Moderate (estimate: from R200)
○ Address: 2a St Philips Street, Richmond Hill St
○ Instagram: @vintagepe
The Backroom
○ Category: Boutique
○ Price Point: Moderate to expensive (estimate: from R200)
○ Address: 253 Main Rd, Walmer
○ Instagram: @thebackroomonline
○ Website: thebackroompreloved.co.za/
The Hospice Shop
○ Category: Thrift
○ Price Point: (estimate: under R100)
○ Address: Shop 63, Shop 63 4th Ave, Newton Park
○ Website: hospice-pe.co.za/shop/
AnnaPanna
○ Category: Thrift
○ Price Point: (estimate: under R100)
○ Address: 325A, Cape Road, Newton Park, Port Elizabeth
○ Instagram/Website: @annapannacharity2024
Ons Winkel PE
○ Category: Thrift
○ Price Point: (estimate: under R100)
○ Address: 14 6th Ave, Walmer; 10 Nobili St, Newton Park
○ Instagram/Website: n/a
Online and Instagram
Yaga
○ App and website
○ Price Point – All ranges
Bicycle Girl Vintage
○ Instagram
○ Price Point – Moderate (estimate: from R200)
Vintage Space
○ Instagram
○ Price Point – Moderate to expensive (estimate: from R200)
Drip Boulevard
○ Instagram
○ Price Point – Moderate to expensive (estimate: from R200)
High End Boulevard
○ Instagram
○ Price Point – Very expensive (estimate: in the thousands)
Jozi Vintage Plug
○ Instagram
○ Price Point – Moderate to expensive (estimate: from R200)
Thrifty Cams
○ Instagram
○ Price Point – Moderate (estimate: from R200)
- Disclaimer: Prices are estimated averages
- Feature image by cottonbro studio on Unsplash
