Time to shop til you drop! Sydney has a vibrant mix of thrift stores waiting to be sifted through.
Are you looking to get your hands on some high-end vintage pieces? Or are you looking to help reduce waste and support communities with every purchase? Consider yourself fully stocked with all the dynamic second-hand offerings Sydney has for you.
Uturn Outlets
Are you a fan of thrift store chains? Then perhaps consider visiting two extensive outlets located within walking distance from each other. The Uturn outlet in Punchbowl now has a companion further along Bonds Road. These two stores are linked, so shopping at one entices you to visit the other. Getting a 10% discount when visiting both stores back-to-back also helps. The prices are reasonable and they offer bundle deals for almost every purchase you make. This can include getting three pairs of jeans for $25. Due to both locations being outlets, expect to find everything. From all styles of clothing to shoes and other decorative pieces.
Uturn Punchbowl Outlet, 95 Bonds Road, Open: Monday- Saturday 9:00am- 5pm. Closed on Sunday.
Uturn Riverwood Outlet, 154 Bonds Road, Open: Monday- Saturday 9:00am- 6pm & Sunday 10:00am- 5pm.
Find out more here.
The Wayside Chapel Op Shop
Shopping for a good cause can sometimes relieve any guilt around spending too much money. The Wayside Chapel Op Shop embodies this through its commitment to supporting vulnerable community members who are experiencing homelessness, addiction, mental health issues and social isolation. They also provide the chance for you to donate any pre-loved goods to them, thus upholding their ethos of sustainability and environmentally conscious shopping.
The Wayside Chapel Op Shop, 31 Hughes St, Potts Point, Open: Monday- Saturday 9am- 4pm & Sunday 10am- 3pm.
Find out more here.
Save The Children Op Shop
Save the Children has an op shop located in Marrickville. Every dollar spent here goes to supporting their mission to help both disadvantaged children in Australia and around the world. The staff are friendly and it feels like a genuine Op Shop, where you can find an array of items including clothing, books and other vintage gems. The Op Shop is run by volunteers and they accept donations of all pre-loved goods. So if you’re looking to free up some space in your wardrobe or want to shop for a noble cause, consider popping into their Marrickville location.
Save the Children Op Shop, 252 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville, Open: Monday- Friday 9am- 4:45pm, Saturday 9am- 4pm & Sunday 10am- 3pm.
Find out more here.
Newtown Vintage 313
With its central location on King Street, Newtown Vintage 313 is a perfect place to start. With vintage and thrifted clothes packed high along the length of the first floor, you feel as though you have entered a world of exploding textures and styles. The extensive collection features a mix of both curated and less curated pieces, meaning you get the best of both worlds. On the second floor you’ll find more formal wear, perfect for special occasions.
Newtown Vintage 313, 313 King St, Newtown, Open: Monday- Friday 10:30am- 6pm, Saturday & Sunday 10am- 6pm.
Find out more here.
Route 66
Located on Enmore Road, Route 66 offers a chance for you to step back in time and play dress up. As the name would suggest, it displays a curated blend of vintage pieces from the 60s and 70s mixed with a wild-west Americana feel. Browsing through the stacks of hangers feels like you are travelling down the historic Route 66, not knowing what you’ll run into along the way. It could be a vintage Ralph Lauren jumper, an unlabelled biker jacket, a classic Harley Davidson tee, or a considerable collection of vintage Levis.
Route 66, 2/82-84 Enmore Rd, Newtown, Open: Sunday- Monday 11am- 5pm, Tuesday- Saturday 10:30am- 6pm.
Find out more here.
The Wilde Merchant
Now for a more curated option, The Wilde Merchant further along King Street, is an amazing choice for you to find vintage clothing including basic band tees, varsity knits, racing jackets and embroidered denim vests. The Wilde Merchant also stocks a number of international brands from countries like Japan, the US and Mexico. The store offers two rooms filled with clothes as well as a third hidden room, where you’ll find a majority of their denim stock. Their hat and cap collection is impressive with classic brands like Harley Davidson and more unique pieces like a Chicago Police Cap.
The Wilde Merchant, 500 King St, Newtown, Open: Monday- Sunday 10am- 6pm.
Find out more here.
Irreplaceable Store
For our sneaker-heads out there, this one’s for you. Irreplaceable Store has an entire wall, stocked full of both vintage and authentic sneakers in excellent condition. Their collection of Nike Dunks is something worth checking out. Alongside their shoe collection, Irreplaceable Store has an array of unique vintage graphic and band tees from artists like Madonna, The Cure and Ice Cube. They also stock a number of collectable action-figures such as vintage 1990s Batman figures and 1980s Loony Tunes characters. Additional pre-loved VHS tapes can be found there of mostly music content such as original music and concert videos.
Irreplaceable Store, 411 King St, Newtown, Open: Monday- Sunday 11am- 6pm.
Find out more here.
Reunion
Reunion, located on Enmore Road, is an amazing high-end vintage option to conclude our Newtown tour. At a reasonable price, you can expect to find brands like Prada, Acne Studios, Miu Miu and Chanel. Their ‘buying booth’ is open daily from 10am- 4pm, where you can drop off your clothes. The shopping experience feels like you have stepped inside a collectable boutique, where you are bound to find quality and unique pieces. Due to it being a more curated option, expect the pieces to be on the more expensive side but in relation to the brands you can find here, the prices are reasonable.
Reunion, 2/112 Enmore Rd, Newtown, Open: Monday- Sunday 10am- 6pm.
Find out more here.
Swop
With locations around the country, Swop is an amazing option for you to shop for all your desired curated and seasonal vintage pieces. Similar to Reunion, Swop is more of a high-end thrift store filled with designer items, however, they take more of a seasonal approach. Before you head in, note that prices vary based on condition. Items are graded from ‘fair’ to ‘mint,’ with the latter costing more. They also consider resale value when offering cash or store credit.
Swop, 219 Oxford St, Darlinghurst, Open: Monday- Sunday 10am- 6pm.
Find out more here.
Casablanca
For a more intimate experience, consider the family run Casablanca on Illawarra Road in Marrickville. More than just a thrifted clothing store, Casablanca is seeking to offer customers an experience where they can be immersed in a world of vintage clothing, furniture, nick-nacks and art. They are looking to open as a cafe/wine bar in the near future, to increase their community reach through a range of events like live music nights, boardgames, life-drawing and trivia. Casablanca is a cozy little escape, where unique pieces hide in plain sight and in every colourful corner.
Casablanca, 330 Illawarra Rd, Marrickville, Open: Saturday & Sunday 11am- 5pm.
Find out more here.
Zoo Emporium
Now for a glitzy finish, consider visiting Zoo Emporium located on Campbell Street in Surry Hills. This store not only invites but encourages you to explore the creative and colourful side of fashion. Packed full of ruffles and sequence, Zoo Emporium is like a time capsule of the most extravagant 1970s or 80s party. Their collection focuses more on the glamour of party attire and less on your basic fashion needs like a pair of jeans and t-shirts, however, you are sure to find unique pieces that will leave everyone at the next party you attend asking, where did you get that?
Zoo Emporium, Unit B/180 Campbell St, Surry Hills, Open: Monday- Saturday 11am- 6pm & Sunday 12- 5pm.
