5 Retailers That Sell Quality Pre-Owned Clothes

Resale clothing shops are all the rage with the hip crowd, but they also have some negative connotations. Either you're paying way too much for an overpriced vintage tee, or you're spending hours looking through racks of torn dresses that have seen better days. These stores offer something different, providing designer labels, personal styling, rentals, contemporary clothes, and item authentication to ensure you're looking your best and getting what you want at a fraction of the price. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.

5 Places to Find Stylish Pre-Owned and Vintage Goods

Name Locations
Dress Raleigh, NC
Greene Street Philadelphia, Wyncote, & Wayne, PA, and Lambertville, Marlton, Princeton, Red Bank, & Summit, NJ
Yoogi's Closet Headquarters in Seattle, WA, with guaranteed authentic items sold online
Buffalo Exchange Over 50 stores across the country
FOUNDRY Washington, D.C.

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Slave to Fashion Safia Minney Naked Fashion: The New Sustainable Fashion Revolution
True Beauty Emme with Daniel Paisner Morning Has Broken: A Couple's Journey Through Depression
ECOrenaissance: A Lifestyle Guide for Cocreating a Stylish, Sexy, and Sustainable World Marci Zaroff
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Name Description
Wasteland Rebel Site that shares simple and effective zero-waste hacks for people looking to reduce their footprint
Zero-Waste Chef Blog that features recipes, listicles, and tips for going zero-waste, especially in the kitchen
Quest Resource management group that works with other companies, helping them deal with their waste streams
Gippsland Unwrapped Blog that shares practical tips on sustainability, enabling visitors to minimize waste and maximize resources
Zero Waste Daniel Clothing designer and advocate for sustainable living, particularly in the fashion industry
Cafeteria Culture Environmental education organization that promotes climate-smart communities, free of plastic and waste, and empowers young people

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According to data from NASA

Year Annual Average Anomaly
2010 0.73°C
2011 0.61°C
2012 0.65°C
2013 0.69°C
2014 0.75°C
2015 0.90°C
2016 1.02°C
2017 0.93°C
2018 0.85°C
2019 0.98°C

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In Depth

Shopping for consignment clothing is not only a great way to save money, but a useful practice for preserving the environment. Instead of continuing an endless process of consumption and disposal, consumers can reduce waste by reusing items that would otherwise end up piled in landfills. Presented in no particular order, here are some shops that advance sustainability by offering high-quality secondhand apparel and accessories.

Coming in at #1 is Dress, a leading upscale consignment shop with two locations in Raleigh, North Carolina. It offers a blend of luxury designer resale, boutique overstock, and new clothing and accessories, with items ranging from apparel and jewelry to handbags and shoes. In addition to accepting used wares from local customers, it also works with out-of-state consignors and boutiques.

Dress also offers a range of client services delivered by its expert team. These include complimentary personal styling and shopping, in-home closet clean-out and pickup, and estate sale services. Customers in need of a temporary outfit can utilize the Rent the dress program, which allows shoppers to choose from over 100 ready-to-wear and contemporary gowns for a nominal rental fee.

Dress also offers a range of client services delivered by its expert team.

For #2 we get Greene Street. Begun as a single family-owned thrift store on Pennsylvania's Main Line, this retailer now has multiple brick-and-mortar locations throughout the greater Philadelphia and New Jersey areas. Its aim is to provide a sustainable shopping alternative to the disposability of the fashion industry, offering customers mid-to-high-end labels at a fraction of retail prices.

Greene Street accepts laundered and folded contemporary-style clothing under three years old, and shoes and accessories with minimal wear. Items it takes include men's and women's seasonal tops, sweaters, denim, outerwear, and jewelry. Among its favored brands are Prada, Gap, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Tory Burch. Committed to giving back to the community, Greene Street partners with and donates to an array of local organizations.

Arriving at #3 is Yoogi's Closet, an online retailer founded on the belief that purchasing preowned luxury items should be as safe and satisfying as buying new. With an emphasis on authenticity, it sells gently used luxury goods from an assortment of designers including Hermes, Balenciaga, and Chloe. Merchandise encompasses everything from clothing, jewelry, and bags to shoes and accessories.

With an emphasis on authenticity, it sells gently used luxury goods from an assortment of designers including Hermes, Balenciaga, and Chloe.

On the company's website, shoppers can find many sale items and new arrivals. They can also browse a plethora of collections such as Staff Favorites, Boot Breakdown, and various designer-specific lines. For every order, customers receive a box with their professionally cleaned and rejuvenated luxury item, as well as an "Authenticity Promise" hang tag, seal, and enclosure card.

For #4 we have Buffalo Exchange, which was opened in Tucson, Arizona in 1974 by Swedish immigrant Kerstin Block and her husband Spencer. Since then, it has expanded to over 50 stores across the country, while under the ownership of Kerstin and her daughter. Offering new and recycled apparel and accessories, the company strives to lead the resale fashion industry, provide a livelihood for its employees, and achieve sustainable profitability.

Buffalo Exchange buys quality-condition men's and women's fashion year round. It focuses on dresses, shoes, jackets, and vintage and athletic wear, as well as everyday staples such as jeans and T-shirts. The company also makes charitable, eco-conscious efforts to support the places in which it operates. Among its initiatives is the Coats for Cubs fur drive, which collects real furs to give comfort to orphaned and injured wildlife.

Among its initiatives is the Coats for Cubs fur drive, which collects real furs to give comfort to orphaned and injured wildlife.

Finally, at #5 is FOUNDRY, located at The Old Lucketts Store in Leesburg, Virginia. Inspired by Parisian flea markets, it mixes vintage vogue with current style, featuring traditional, modern, and contemporary pieces alongside the quirky and eclectic. The shop grew from the rummaging lifestyle of owner Yvette Freeman, who has spent much of her life searching for unique pieces to revive. FOUNDRY is restocked and restyled monthly, so customers can find something new on each visit.

The shop offers a wide assortment of furnishings, threads, and design services. For the home, customers can find vintage and modern items like industrial shelves, armchairs, and sidepieces. A curated collection of apparel and accessories features pieces that can't be found anywhere else, in addition to merchandise from major name brands. FOUNDRY also provides design consultation, estate liquidation, and personal shopping services.