Where to thrift in Hong Kong

Published:May 18, 2020 | Style 時尚動向, YOU!

Best places to Thrift or Buy Secondhand

WELL, you’ve made the decision to stop impulse shopping and being a slave to all the new trends but making the swap to shop secondhand is tough if you don’t know where to begin! Our resident Earth-friendly Fashionista, Norbyah Nolasco has broken down her favourite places to thrift in Hong Kong to help guide you into the world of sustainable shopping!

Secondhand Luxury

Hula – Wong Chuk Hang has a huge selection of luxury and vintage items. A great selection of shoes, handbags, accessories as well as contemporary designer items as well. Well curated. Hula owner, Sarah Fung, also hosts panel discussions and other events which promote a more sustainable approach to buying and wearing clothes. I always leave feeling so inspired!

Vintage Vibes

Mee & Gee (Me and George) – Wan Chai, Central and Mongkok. These stores stock Japanese and Korean deadstock vintage pieces (lots of secretary dresses, 80s does 50s vibes), denim and flannel, men’s blazers and even coveralls. You have to be prepared to dig for the gems and you can’t try anything on.

Dig through the racks

Sun and Moon – Stanley Market. Truly the closest thing to a thrift shop for me. I stop by each week when my daughter is at art class. This is a chain of shops in Hong Kong, but I really love mine. It gets surplus stock or past season stock along with samples from well-known brands around the world. Often the labels are cut, but if you know your stuff, you’ll know what’s good.

Salvation Army – Sai Wan Ho, Shau Kei Wan, Kennedy Town (and now Causeway Bay). I always pop in here when I’m leaving donations. Mostly what you’ll find are secondhand contemporary brands. A varying selection of shoes and bags and items for the home. I miss when we had a Salvation Army in Stanley. I remember finding some Miu Miu shoes there over ten years ago, which I still wear (tip: the good stuff is often by the counter in the glass case).

Shop for a good cause

Redress Pop Up Sale – Location TBD. Redress hosts two or three sales each year, in different locations. They host a city-wide clothing drive in October and after a massive session of sorting, they send items for donation to charities and host a sale for the rest. The proceeds of their sales go towards all the work they do to raise awareness about textile waste and the environment as well as to host their annual sustainable fashion show.

Green Ladies – Wan Chai, Sai Ying Pun and Tsuen Wan. For a more curated experience of affordable secondhand items, this is the place. Proceeds support St. James’ Settlement. They’re also partnered with Redress.

Fashionistas Unite

Hand Me Down Collective – Wong Chuk Hang. Two times per year, HMDC invite people to open their wardrobes and sell what they’re not wearing. Reserving a spot is by application so the ladies who run the collective can curate your shopping experience (there ten racks). Sales run in Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter. This year, they’re looking to expand with new secondhand ideas. Stay tuned.