Aug 5

Aug 5 Thrifting in Singapore

Where to go to pop some tags!

Written by: Samantha Lim | Illustrations by: Samantha Lim

In a country where there is an abundance of clothing, how can we ensure that our habits are sustainable? People often get their clothing from fast fashion companies because they are readily available. However, how sustainable is it for the Earth? From water pollution to the use of toxic chemicals, is fast fashion really worth it

There are sustainable brands that are creating sustainable clothing that do minimal harm to the environment, however, these brands often come with a pretty hefty price tag. Definitely not affordable to the average teen in Singapore.

Fret not! There are many ways that one can be reduce their carbon footprints as well as stay fashionable at a fraction of the price. Here are some of the awesome places, where youths can find affordable clothing!

1. The Attic Place

The Attic Place caters to the fancier bunch of people. It carries preloved luxury items at a fraction of its original price. They believe that luxury should be a reality for all. They carefully screen through every item that comes into the shop to bring the finest quality to its customers.

Address: 545 Orchard Road, #04-01 Far East Shopping Centre, Singapore 238882

Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday (11.30AM – 6.30PM), Closed on Sunday

2. New2U Thrift Shop

Possibly Singapore’s most well-known thrift store, New2U sells a variety of items aside from clothes. It is managed entirely by the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisation (SCWO), a group of volunteers. This store is very crowded on Tuesdays, where they have regular student discounts. They also hold a half off sale every month for at least 2 working days. The money that this shelter earns goes towards SCWO’s initiatives.

Address: 96 Waterloo Street, Singapore 187967

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday (10.30AM – 2.30PM), Closed on the Weekends

3. MINDS Thrift Stores

MINDS which stands for the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore runs 4 thrift stores located around Singapore and employs intellectually disabled staff to interact with customers and gain retail skills. MINDS Thrift stores contain a wide range of apparels and accessories for ladies, gentlemen as well as children!

Locations:

1. 29 Rosyth Road, Singapore 546190

2. 30 Woodlands Ring Road, Singapore 737883

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Thursday (10AM – 3PM), Closed from Friday to Monday

3. 71 Redhill Road, Singapore 150071

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Saturday (9AM – 4PM), Closed on Sunday and Monday

4. 800 Margaret Drive, Singapore 149310

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday (8.30AM – 6PM), Closed on the weekends

4. Praisehaven Mega Family Thrift Store (Salvation Army)

The largest thrift store in Singapore, made assessable from the downtown line (Hillview), Praisehaven is probably the most convenient thrift store to visit. During prom season, this store would be fairly busy.

With a majority of bridesmaids dresses and other formal wear only getting worn once or twice, this place has an abundance of formal wear. The prices are definitely much cheaper than what you would pay at a boutique. Normal clothing also comes in multiple racks. There are also fitting rooms available for you to try on clothing before committing to a clothing item, which is rare in thrift stores in Singapore, due to the space constraints. They also have bags, shoes and various accessories.

The rest of the branches of Salvation Army, although not as big as Praisehaven, also has various apparel too.

Locations:

1. 500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106

Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday (11AM – 7PM), Friday to Saturday (11AM – 8PM), Closed on Sunday

2. 10 Buangkok View, Singapore 539747

Opening Hours: Monday – Friday (9AM – 4PM), Closed on the weekends

3. 356 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247674

Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday (10AM – 6PM), Closed on Sunday

4. Jalan Bukit Merah Block 133, #01-1530, Singapore 160133