The Tik Tok personalities of today are saying it, the young and stylish have been doing it for years, the environmentally-conscious too are preaching: it’s never been a better time to support slow fashion and to get thrifting. Luckily, we live in a city overflowing with high-quality, previously-loved clothing that will keep your closet consciously cool.

This selection of local stores and websites showcases some of the best of what Cape Town has to offer in the sustainable stylish. You’ll start wishing that everyday could be Throwback Thursday.

NEVERNEW

Established in mid-2014, Nevernew is one of Observatory’s staple vintage stores. The shop is always buzzing with a mixture of stylish students, Obs locals and vintage-seekers from far and wide. The store’s business and busyness are testament to its provision of high quality, trendy, and classic retro clothing.

The store stocks a vast range of second-hand gems. They stock good quality and affordable retro clothing items, with menswear and ladieswear for whatever you please. You can also find a selection of shoes, with accessories like belts and bags on offer too.

Nevernew’s diverse closet also means that you can get your hands on new band t-shirts and merchandise, hats, sunglasses, and some sterling silver jewellery. They also offer a range of locally-made festival wear to celebrate at your next big night (or day) out. It’s the perfect place to shop for your next themed event.

With new stock coming in daily, the older stock gets marked down regularly. Some say that ‘good work isn’t cheap’, but Nevernew assures that you can always put your eye on a great bargain with some browsing time.

Address: 15b Lower Main Rd, Observatory and 3 Norfolk Rd, Observatory

Contact: 079 845 6926 | Email: nevernew.store@gmail.com
Facebook: @NevernewStore | Instagram: @nevernewstore

SECONDHAND ROSE

Secondhand Rose is a long-standing legend of the vintage scene. Established in 1971, the store is the longest-running and oldest second-hand ladies’ clothing shop in Cape Town. Join a long line of loyal customers: some of whom have been shopping there for 50 years!

The store has stock going in and out of their doors all the time. So, there is always something fresh and interesting waiting to be given a second chance. There are always new tailored treasures waiting to be discovered.

Secondhand Rose stocks a wide variety of top-quality clothing, shoes, jewelry, accessories. Paraphernalia from the past forms part of a diverse range of stock certainly to be proud of.

Its vintage items offer clothing from the early 1900s to the 1990s. You can find a selection of contemporary clothing, including up-market brands loved locally, like G-Couture, Country Road, Trenery and other local designers. Overseas and luxury designer brands are also widely available at Secondhand Rose, including a star-studded line-up of Ferragamo, Fendi, Chanel and Gucci, amongst others.

The store’s owner has been involved with the store for almost 35 years. Pay Secondhand Rose a visit for a friendly welcome and helpful service specially catered to your enjoyment. Its long-standing customer base is a testament to the staff’s loving expertise to assist you in building your vintage wardrobe.

Address: Shop 8 at Grove on the Square, Warwick St, Claremont.

Contact: 021 674 4270 | Email: secondhandrose@mweb.co.za | Website: secondhandrose.co.za
Facebook: @SecondhandRose | Instagram: @secondhand_rose_ct

UNFOLD PRELOVED

Parents are often faced with the frustration of how quickly their little ones grow out of their clothing, again and again. Unfold Preloved offers the ideal solution to kitting out your kids with the best range of clothing: without any damage to your budget, or to Mother Earth.

Unfold Preloved started as a little Facebook group, where the founder sold her own kids’ used clothing: still in good condition and with many more years on them for other tiny tots. From here, the brand was born.

The business offers a destination where parents can resell their children’s clothing that’s no longer worn, in addition to other used goods that will also keep the family happy, like toys and books. There is also a range of maternity-wear for moms, who also deserve to get in on the fun.

Unfold Preloved proves that parents have a place in the thrifting scene. Avoid breaking the bank and shop at a store that firmly carries out a sustainable and compassionate ethos. This is the place to get your little one – or yourself – high-quality products fit for play, learning, growing, and everything in between.

Address: Unit 2, Orient Mews, Corner Orient Rd and Constantia Main Rd

Contact: 060 762 6927 | Email: unfoldpreloved@gmail.com | Website: unfoldpreloved.com
Facebook: @UnfoldPreloved | Instagram: @unfoldpreloved

CHIC MAMAS DO CARE

Chic Mamas Do Care offers the perfect opportunity to combine shopping for style with shopping for a cause. For over ten years, the stores – in Wynberg, and in other cities across South Africa – bring the love of community into every sale of their second-hand clothing.

Thrifters have the chance to peruse their range of only the highest quality pre-loved clothing and accessories with a difference. These compassionate spaces combine the sustainability and consciousness of thrifting, with meaningful opportunities for charity and care for South African communities.

All proceeds go towards education projects across the nation. The non-profit organisation has also launched a new online initiative called Love It Again. This is an online pre-loved marketplace that allows access to all the Chic Mamas Do Care stores nation-wide. This online store holds the same ethos as each physical shop, and sees the power of change in every small action, and in every consumer. This platform allows more conscientious citizens to have the opportunity to do their bit for the environment, for South Africa and indeed the world.