Vintage & thrift stores to check out if you want to shop sustainably

Fashion cycles back every twenty years or so, which means ironically, you’d be better off wearing your grandmother’s dresses today than what whatever you thought was cool three years ago. Cue A Vintage Tale, whose founder Azzura La Mantia drew inspiration for a vintage clothing store in 2015 while on an air balloon overlooking Milan. Today, her Joo Chiat store is stocked with ’50s to ’90s fashion primarily from Italian brands Gucci, Moschino and others. Open 2:30 to 7:30 pm on Mondays and 11:30 am to 7:30 pm the rest of the week, they also run a cafe next-door, aptly named A Vintage Taste.

277 Joo Chiat Rd, #01-01, Singapore 427531

When Death Threads hold their limited-run “editions” every month, it’s only fair to expect a snaking queue of kids waiting patiently outside their store. Founder-director of creative studio Tell Your Children, Deon Phua and his specialised team of vintage clothing buyers have tapped into the hype of modern-day sneaker releases to invigorate the demand for nostalgia on a t-shirt. Check out their Instagram for clothing releases and the next time you can visit them. They’re located on the second floor of the industrial KAPO Factory, a stone’s throw away from Tai Seng MRT station.

KAPO Factory, 80 Playfair Road, Blk A #04-06 Singapore 367998

In the last 2 years, Singaporean kids have opened up to the idea of wearing and using vintage clothing as a kickoff to conversations about music, movies and books. Thank Loop Garms for that. Founders Isaac and FJ opened shop in 2018 in the quaint shophouse district of Jalan Besar (it’s a shaded 1-minute walk from Jalan Besar MRT station). They initially drew stylish shoppers from nearby art schools LASALLE and NAFA but have since incrementally expanded their customer base. They currently open from 12 pm to 7:30 pm daily (except Wednesday). Check out their Instagram for daily clothing releases and style videos.

635 Veerasamy Rd, #01-148, Singapore 200635

When our grandmothers rave about their lives “back in the day”, we somehow always imagine a version of The Great Gatsby party. It’s the way people used to live—superbly carefree and extravagant—that meant what they wore reeked of fabulousness too. Déjà Vu Vintage offers every version of that dream across three categories: vintage, handmade, and designer vintage. If you’re a fan of decadent vintage pieces, you’ll be hardpressed to leave this place empty-handed. And while vintage pieces are notorious for being “free-sized”, the store even offers tailoring services to ensure you never have to look like you’re “borrowing” someone else’s clothes. Their Millenia Walk store opens from 11 am to 9 pm every day.

9 Raffles Blvd, #01-70, Millenia Walk, 039596

Founded by design student Darryl Soh, Retro Gate is truly a vintage clothing store for the digital native. Cue their omnichannel platforms: a physical store in Golden Mile Complex, open at 1 pm to 8 pm from Fridays to Tuesdays, an Instagram account, and a Telegram group chat (search “Retro Gate Group Chat”) for keen buyers who want to snatch the latest picks fast. They also just announced their latest offering, a music party called That ‘90’s Show, dedicated to the best of many of our favourite hits growing up. Sign up here for their party on 21 March and recommend what songs you’d like to jive to!

5001 Beach Rd, #04-16, Singapore 199588

If you’ve ever wondered how anyone cops popular streetwear these days, ask the people at Exit Co. Actually, don’t ask them, they’ll never reveal trade secrets. If you follow their multiple Instagram accounts, you’ll know their knack for sourcing rare finds doesn’t end there. They run up to five accounts dedicated to your different secondhand clothing needs: from “hype” streetwear and sneakers, to curated vintage picks. Visit their two stores at Orchard Plaza and Queensway Shopping Centre, opened 2 pm to 8 pm daily.

150, #05-27 Orchard Rd, Orchard Plaza, 238841
1 Queensway, #01-17 EXIT, Queensway, 149071

On one episode of Netflix’s reality show Singapore Social released last year, burlesque dancer Sukki Singapora dragged fan favourite Paul Foster to a vintage clothing store to try on (of course) pink frilly dresses. Well, if you were wondering where they were, it’s a little hole in the world treasure trove called Dust Bunny. After selling vintage clothing for about 15 years, Dust Bunny recently started their own label of limited-edition modern spins on nostalgic motifs and silhouettes in 2015. Visit their Keong Saik store open 12:30 pm to 8 pm weekdays, 1 pm to 7 pm weekends and public holidays.

2-A Keong Saik Rd., Singapore 089110

Contrary to popular belief, shopping vintage clothing is not a new concept, it was merely popularised among kids in the past few years. And neither is it actually a fashion trend, much like wearing stripes or jeans or red lipstick. Just refer to Thrifty Kitschy Pickers SG’s Instagram bio, which pronounces they’ve been established since 1993. Located in the industrial district of Bukit Batok, their selection epitomises the saying that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure: dig through their racks bricolaged with dated references (they’re proudly kitsch!) and find your latest conversation-starter outfit.

1 Bukit Batok Cres, #04-27 WCEGA Plaza, Singapore 658064

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This article was first published in Cleo.