by Leah Reed Forbes
If you’ve found yourself throwing open your cupboard, exasperated, screaming “I have nothing to wear!” into the void lately, you’re not alone. While that Foschini dress you got on sale at your favourite Joburg mall begs to be either loved or let go, you continue to be late to the function because you can’t decide what to wear. Around 85% of women keep clothing that no longer fits, so if you’re looking for a sign to let those tight dungarees go, this is it.
We're buying more clothes than ever, and the impact of fast fashion on the environment continues to climb, with fewer than 1% of fast fashion items ever being recycled. The result is landfills brimming with used garments as we place yet another order for a single-use haul to be shipped from Shein. This is not sustainable.
Instead, we should look toward a circular economy in the way we think about our clothes. Those dungarees might fit someone else just right, and that Foschini dress still has the tag on it. Thrifting has always been a staple of the most stylish among us. Not only is it a more sustainable way of moving the fashion economy forward, but thrift shops often hold quality pieces at a fraction of what they would cost new.
On top of being kinder to the planet and your pocket, a day out thrifting is a perfect date idea, so grab your beau (or your bestie) and head out to the top thrifting spots in Joburg. See our guide to the best vintage finds in Joburg here.
Picnic and Thrift
For an adventurous day out and a wide selection, keep an eye out for the next Picnic and Thrift. This pop-up thrift market in Johannesburg, Centurion and Cape Town brings various vendors together for themed shopping events. Founded in 2019, they create an accessible marketplace for small businesses and artists, while providing an exciting place for shoppers to explore and buy sustainably.
Their upcoming Joburg dates are:
Thrift and Sip: 15 February at The Birmingham in Parkhurst, 11 AM-4 PM
Picnic & Thrift Rivonia: 28 February at Rivonia Recreation Club, Sandton, 11 AM-4 PM
Thrift and Sip: 28 February at The Birmingham in Parkhurst, 11 AM-4 PM
Keep an eye on their Instagram page for new date and venue announcements.
Conrad Collective
For quality, trendy thrift finds, check out Conrad Collective in Blairgowrie. Owned by seasoned thrifter Skye West, they feature a range of mid to high-end (mostly) women’s clothes. I found a dress there that resembled something I had seen at SA Fashion Week for a fraction of the price.
Open Tuesday - Saturday from 9 AM-5 PM and Sundays from 9AM-2 PM at 94A Conrad Dr, Blairgowrie.
Beanies for Beings
A registered NPO, Beanies for Beings was founded as a natural response to the huge demand for assistance amongst children, families and individuals. Their Northriding charity shop accepts donations for people and pets, and sales help drive their other projects like their WelBeing Food bank, which provides food, toiletries and essential items to families, individuals, schools, orphanages, special needs homes, old age homes and creches within their community. Find them at 482 Boundary Road, Northriding.
Junkie - Now in Linden
Junkie Charity Store has been a staple Joburg thrift shop for years. Formerly situated in Melville, Junkie has moved to Shop 18, 59 4th Avenue, Linden. Lovers of this charity store won’t be disappointed with the new space, as hunting for treasure through mountains of clothing, household items, trinkets and books is just as exciting as ever. Packed to the brim with bargains, supporting charity shops doing great work is part of what makes thrifting such a rewarding exercise.
Open Monday - Saturday from 09h00 - 17h00
Sundays 10h00 - 15h00
Coat Corner
Once winter arrives in Joburg, you’ll need a quality coat to keep you warm and impress your friends. If you’re looking for secondhand coats in Joburg, Coat Corner is the spot. They have locations in Springs, Kempton Park and Benoni and with over 75 000 coats, they claim to be the world’s biggest coat shop. They import high-quality, worn coats from Europe, available at a fraction of the price.
Locations:
79 Pretoria Road, Kempton Park
31 Van Wyk Road, Brentwood Park, Benoni
Thrifting is rewarding when we find hidden gems, buried treasures, shop sustainably, and support worthy causes. You can also keep an eye out for clothing swaps in your area, or start one of your own! Connecting with your community means you can say goodbye to the garments gathering dust at home and introduce something fresh to your wardrobe without spending a cent.
