Vintage & Secondhand Clothing Resources

building a sustainable wardrobe

If you’re in search of some of the best online vintage and secondhand clothing resources so you can start curating a wardrobe that speaks kindly to you, and the planet – you’re in the right place!

If you want to hear more about how the fast fashion industry is hurting our planet and get the inside scoop about building a sustainable brand – tune in to my podcast episode here!

But the quick and dirty rundown is that when you’re building a sustainable wardrobe you’re actually allowing for less clothing to be in landfills, fewer resources wasted, and less pollution from pesticides, dyes, and plastics.

Here I share my top resources for vintage and secondhand clothing.

sumbae clothing

If you’re looking for one-of-a-kind, curated vintage pieces with some streetwear flare – this is the brand for you!

Here are a few reasons why I love SUMBAE:

Curated vintage streetwear can be hard to find – SUMBAE makes it easy. They specialize in streetwear essentials like graphic tees (like this one!) sweatshirts, jackets, and more.
Each piece is unique and there are new drops regularly so each piece feels special! My tip – if you like your tees oversized like this – size up one or two sizes!
SUMBAE is woman-owned, black-owned, and solo operated
SUMBAE cares about YOU and the planet! Their sustainability pact includes an evergreen sustainability program partnering with One Tree Planted. That means for every order, SUMBAE will plant one tree in an area where reforestation efforts are ongoing around the world. 1 order = 1 tree planted

Place your order using LENA15 for 15% off of your order and tag me on Instagram when you get it so I can hype you up!

depop

DEPOP is one of the largest worldwide communities for finding all things designer, preloved, vintage, and streetwear. Their goal is that you find unique fashion and build connections.

I love DEPOP because you can follow accounts to view updated pieces on your “Feed” and there is a curated section for you “My DNA” based on your searches and purchases. So the more you use the app, the more you will come across pieces that fit your style.

Bonus: if you want to get started selling your own closet on DEPOP you can make room for another unique piece you find!

Rent the runway

Rent the Runway is an online service that provides designer clothing and accessory rentals for a fraction of the price.

So while it isn’t exactly building your own wardrobe – it’s allowing for a piece of clothing to be enjoyed multiple times by multiple humans (making it a form of secondhand!)

With multiple membership tiers, you’re able to decide how much of your wardrobe you want to rotate – from 4 pieces per month up to 16. This is perfect for fashionistas who always like a new style.

I use RTR for special events, like my best friend’s bridesmaid reveal, since I didn’t want to buy an occasion dress that would spend more time in my closet than being worn! They come in a cloth bag that you send the clothes back in, and you get the option of adding more sizes if you aren’t sure what will fit!

Patagonia worn wear

Patagonia has been a leader in outdoor apparel for almost 50 years and is continuing to at the forefront of the sustainable clothing industry. Patagonia Worn Wear is a collection of gear and apparel that is secondhand.

I love Patagonia Worn Wear (and the Patagonia brand in general) because they set the standard for what companies should be doing. Creating quality products with sustainable materials that last years, while closing the loop and taking back clothing to put it into circulation again. Buy less, demand more – as they say.

When you return your used Patagonia clothing, you will also get in-store credit! AND they have a Recrafted collection made from a collection of used garments that were landfill-bound. A win-win-win situation!

Image source: Patagonia’s website https://wornwear.patagonia.com

Shop Local

Okay, you had to see this one coming – right? Spending your money at local vintage clothing shops is probably one of the best ways to curate a sustainable wardrobe:

It helps the local economy to thrive
It supports small businesses (aka you’re helping to put food on the table for someone in your own town)
You can try on the clothes – ensuring that they fit and won’t be something you throw in the back of your closet.
You can talk to the shop owner about curating pieces that you’re looking for – chances are if you’re looking for silk scarves another customer probably is too!
No shipping means you can wear your new outfit out for a night on the town ASAP!

Try going to Google Maps and searching “Vintage Clothing” nearby and you will be able to see what’s available in your city!

More vintage clothing sites

Still looking for the perfect site? Here are some more options right at your fingertips!

ThredUp

Find high-quality thrifted items on the world’s largest online thrift store. Here you can buy and sell secondhand clothes. Sustainability is at the heart of ThredUp, where they encourage shopping with intention instead of throwaway culture and work to educate consumers on the impacts of the fashion industry.

ETSY

You can find almost anything on Etsy, including your next one-of-a-kind piece of clothing. At every price point, you can find something that is eclectic and full of character. Here you can shop vintage, handmade, and custom pieces.

POSHMARK

Another option for buying secondhand and selling your own clothes is Poshmark. Poshmark has vintage, secondhand, as well as new items available for sale – with on-trend and designer items reigning king. What’s neat about Poshmark is that you can join virtual, live, shopping parties!

Do you have a favorite vintage secondhand shop that you love? Share it in the comments!