by Amelia Gantt
As a General Course student, I’ve been a fan of thrifting for a while in the US, but I have heard that thrifting has only recently become popularised in the UK – most charity shops in London remain small and expensive, and high-end, first-hand fashion still reigns supreme. It seems that the British value status and status symbols over much else. Though, I think that much value can be found in the nameless, aged, funky pieces, and this is what I am looking for when I shop. I have been exploring more around town and have some recommendations of where you could start thrifting.
- Silk Road in Bloomsbury:
Totally underrated, this small shop has truly great prices – sweaters for 99p and leather jackets for £30. For what it can hold, it is filled to the brim with clothes, accessories, and small household knick-knacks. They are open at odd times (don’t trust the Google Maps hours), but the owners are very kind and they seem to be open most nights when I stroll past around 8pm.
- Preloved kilo sale events:
If you can handle the rush, kilo sales are the best place to shop for vintage clothes. They pop up in multiple locations around London on selected days; you can book a ticket online for £1 or sometimes £3 and the price per kilo is normally around £15. I bought a genuine leather blazer for less than £10!
- Brick Lane Vintage Market:
Open every day of the week, this huge downstairs venue holds a ton of great finds, whether your style is classy or grunge. There were over 15 vendors with quite substantial collections of clothes and accessories. I found a gorgeous silky button down with a unique paisley pattern from the stall of a funky old American who also boasted a rack of vintage leather jackets.
- Cream Vintage in Shoreditch:
Although much smaller than the Vintage Market, you’re sure to be impressed by the organisation of sales. They have a good selection of fleece pullovers in a wide range of colours all situated on one rack, all for £20 and tanks and tees for £5-£10.
- Muswell Hill/Stoke Newington:
I love to just tour the shops in these areas of London. Wealthy neighbourhoods have a lot of good finds, and stock more designer labels if that’s what you are looking for. Dog Trust seems to be a store where you can often find impeccable off-price goods. It’s always great to know that you’re shopping in support of a good cause.
