Pre-loved clothes not only help reduce the environmental impact of disposable fashions, but they also give new life to yesteryear threads and glam up your wardrobe with unique items. In the end, you can’t go past a good looking op shop for a fashionable bargain.
There are over 100 op shops in Sydney, waiting to be discovered. As with most op shops, you will have to do some serious digging, but you never know what you might find. A vintage Chanel perhaps, or a piece of furniture for the living room.
Dig through Sydney’s best op shops for your next treasure find.
Zoo Emporium
Surry Hills
If you’re looking for designer and collectable vintage wearables, then this is the place you want to be. When you walk in, you’re immediately taken back to the 70s and 80s, with retro vintage fashion including handbags, shoes, and jewellery. The entire ground floor has bargains and sales, whereas the top floor is for those rare finds.
Route66
Enmore
There are plenty of op shops in Enmore, but Route66 is longstanding and just has that something special. Expect leather fringe jackets, floral skirts and endless denim. You can also expect to be educated and moved by Route66s’ passion for used clothing. Since 1988, this op shop brought an appreciation to buying quality classic clothing. They’ve created a community of like-minded individuals, looking to get their kicks on Route66 and any other American-influenced fashion and lifestyle.
Irreplaceable Store
Newtown
If you’re a skater or just a cool kid, you probably hang out at the Irreplaceable Store. Here, you can pick up a fresh box of Nike kicks, vintage varsity jackets, and hoodies, all for an affordable price. You can even buy, sell, and trade your stuff.
Blue Spinach
Redfern
Recognised by its blue shopfront, Blue Spinach is notorious for a luxury find, You will find all the trendy people here, scouring the racks for Gucci and Prada. This op shop is a consignment store, so it sells luxury brands on behalf of consignors. So if you’re looking for your next designer sunglasses, visit Blue Spinach.
U-Turn Vintage
Multiple locations
You can find a U-Turn in Newtown, Bondi, Surry Hills, and many more neighbourhoods around Sydney. Each store promises affordable second-hand fashion. Dig through the treasure chests of vintage items, and you just might walk out with a gem.
Storeroom Vintage
Surry Hills
Storeroom Vintage handpicks pre-loved items from all over the world and from several eras including the 70s, 80s, and ’90s. They’re serious about thrifting, and eccentric thrifters frequent the Storeroom. Expect to find American graphic tees, sportswear, surf style, rock and roll influenced threads, and more. They’re known for their streetwear offerings, but also some real vintage finds, that could have you going home with a rare leather jacket.
Potts Point Vintage
Potts Point
Everything here is about glamour and fabrics. You will find furs and designer wedding dresses, handbags, cufflinks, and period accessories from Dolce and Gabbana. They even have items from the runway, the Australian Film industry and other regular suppliers, including theatre groups. This place is a real find and even if you don’t want to buy anything, look around at all the cool items that would have been worn in movies.
SWOP Clothing Exchange
SWOP is another consignment store hosting a world of quality vintage and on-trend items. Be sure to follow their Instagram page as they post new items daily, which you can purchase through a DM. They have 20K followers, so if you see something you like, jump on it then and there before it disappears.
Real King Vintage
Freshwater
Looking for anything 90s? Head to the Real King Vintage in Freshwater for all things streetwear including vintage NFL and NBA tees. You will also find some Disney shirts and classic pieces from top sports brands.
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