The conventional wisdom among many Singaporeans towards their clothes used to be to shop as much for as cheap as possible. However, it is crucial that we understand it is not okay to mindset anymore. Not only are (shockingly) cheap clothes a symptom of shady supply chains and labour abuse, they are massive contributors to the environmental crisis we’re faced with today.
In lieu of ditching fast fashion, secondhand marketplaces like vintage and thrift stores have emerged as many of our answers to a guilt-free wardrobe that can look surprisingly today. Ahead, we’ve rounded up sussed out some of our favourite stores to shop from:
The founders of Loop Garms have done it again with their new vintage clothing store Stakeout, that’s conveniently located a few doors down from their OG outlet. The store was initially set up to break down the walls of fashion stereotypes and offer Singaporeans a place to flock to for affordable vintage clothes. Compared to Loop Garms, prices at Stakeout are considerably more affordable (with pieces from as low as $20) and they also offer a wider selection of styles. Think — leather jackets, bell-bottom jeans and varsity jackets.
Unlike most vintage stores, Stakeout offer a unique 3 tier pricing which means the more you buy, the more you save on each piece.
635 Veerasamy Road # 01-154 Singapore 200635. Open daily from 12:30pm to 7:30pm.
Perhaps the biggest draw to shop at thrift stores is that the items are more affordable. In fact, at times, you can find designer pieces for a fraction of the price — which is definitely a steal, especially if it’s a limited-edition piece that you can’t find anywhere else. But that doesn’t mean old means dated or unfashionable. The folks over at Function Five can attest to that, with most of their team consisting of students who handle the storefront and their social media channels – Instagram and TikTok (which boasts a following of up to 12,000 followers, and counting).
What’s more, the store also has its own promotion that they do quite frequently with offers like ‘buy three get one free’ and other exclusive student promotions. Did we mention that their clothes are also capped at $25? A bang for your buck indeed.
43 Arab Street Singapore 199742. Open daily from 12:00pm to 9:00pm.
If you grew up in the Queenstown neighbourhood, you’d know that Queenstown Shopping Centre was known as the place to go for cheap t-shirt printing and sports gear. Well, it seems those times are changing as more and more vintage clothing stores are popping up in that decades-old shopping centre.
One of those stores is Divine Archive, a vintage clothing store carrying a massive collection of graphic tees that make reference to some of pop cultures’ most well-known people and characters. From John Cena, to Mickey Mouse, and Marvel comics — you name it, and they will probably have it!
Queensway Shopping Centre, #02-37J Queenstown Estate, Singapore 149053. Open three days a week from Friday to Sunday, 1:00pm to 8:00pm.
Boasting over 13,000 thousand followers on Instagram, jiggythings is, hands down, one of Singapore’s most well-loved vintage stores. They are stockists of a wide selection of hoodies, sweatshirts and good ol’ oversized graphic tees from the 80s and 90s (all of which are neatly photographed on their never-ending Instagram feed), often doing pop-ups in various locations around Singapore like Spades Room. There’s something for everyone here at Jiggythings, even and especially your dad.
1 Thomson Road, #01-342A. Singapore 300001. Open from Friday to Sunday, 1:00pm to 7:00pm.
Giving clothes a new lease of life has a certain euphoria to it – knowing that a jacket has lived an entirely different life before you got your hands on it just makes the whole experience of wearing it so much more meaningful. With that said, going through piles of clothes to find the diamond in the rough can be tedious. Enter Nonmainstream, a curated vintage and preloved clothing store located in the Kampong Glam area.
They carry an abundance of Nike windbreakers, vests and jeans of all sorts (think corduroy and utilitarian) and worker jackets. This ultra-hip store is located a 5-minute walk from Lavender MRT and often updates their Instagram with their latest pieces.
462A Crawford Lane, #02-73, Singapore 191462. Open only three days out of the week (Friday to Sunday, 1:00pm to 7:00pm)
This newly opened vintage shop, Rehearsal, is located in the ever-popular Far East Plaza — a place where thrifters often flock to for the best and cheapest buys. This place is one to check out if you’re due for a wardrobe refresh, carrying pieces from Tommy Hilfiger, Levis, Hard Rock, Ralph Lauren and more at affordable prices. So instead of spending your money on new clothes this coming Chinese New Year, why not breathe new life into their old but gold vintage clothes?
14 Scotts Road Far East Plaza, #01-76, 228213. Open Wednesday to Thursday, 2:00pm -7:00pm and Friday to Sunday, 1:00pm -7:00pm.
Offering a wide range of apparel from countries around the world, Fugu Vintage is the place to be if you’re looking for stylish and retro pieces for your wardrobe. Helmed by Ken Tan and Jaz Ong, the store was first opened at The Adelphi before going fully digital online on Instagram. The store now offers quality pieces that have been sourced from their very own network of trusted overseas sellers and business partners.
#02-01, 77 Kampong Bahru Road, Singapore 169376. Open from Tuesdays to Sundays from 11:00am-7:00pm.
Located at the heart of Haji Lane lies Flame Vintage — a store that stocks a wide array of authentic vintage apparel from well-known brands. Here, you can expect an extensive range of streetwear apparel as well as garments that include pop culture references.
67 Haji Lane, Singapore 189260. Open daily from 12:00pm to 9:00pm.
What first started out as a passion project has now grown into a full-time business. At Vintage Weeknd, you’ll find affordable options that cater to those who love vintage items and styles that have been reworked items that are sourced from various countries across the globe. What we love most about them is that they offer a wide range of styles that will suit your every style need. Sporty chic, girly, boho, you name it! On their Instagram, you can also have a look at how they style their pieces too.
First Center #08-08, 50 Serangoon North Ave 4, Singapore 555856. Open from Friday 6:00pm-10:00pm & Sat/Sun 2:00pm-9:00pm.
Fashion cycles back every twenty years or so, which means ironically, you’d be better off wearing your grandmother’s dresses today than what whatever you thought was cool three years ago. Cue A Vintage Tale, whose founder Azzura La Mantia drew inspiration for a vintage clothing store in 2015 while on an air balloon overlooking Milan. Today, her Joo Chiat store is stocked with ’50s to ’90s fashion primarily from Italian brands Gucci, Moschino and others.
277 Joo Chiat Rd, #01-01, Singapore 427531. Open 2:30pm to 7:30 pm on Mondays and 11:30 am to 7:30 pm the rest of the week, they also run a cafe next-door, aptly named A Vintage Taste.
When Death Threads hold their limited-run “editions” every month, it’s only fair to expect a snaking queue of kids waiting patiently outside their store. Founder-director of creative studio Tell Your Children, Deon Phua and his specialised team of vintage clothing buyers have tapped into the hype of modern-day sneaker releases to invigorate the demand for nostalgia on a t-shirt. Check out their Instagram for clothing releases and the next time you can visit them. They’re located on the second floor of the industrial KAPO Factory, a stone’s throw away from Tai Seng MRT station.
188-8 Tanjong Katong Road Singapore 436990
In the last 2 years, Singaporean kids have opened up to the idea of wearing and using vintage clothing as a kickoff to conversations about music, movies and books. Thank Loop Garms for that. Founders Isaac and FJ opened shop in 2018 in the quaint shophouse district of Jalan Besar (it’s a shaded 1-minute walk from Jalan Besar MRT station). They initially drew stylish shoppers from nearby art schools LASALLE and NAFA but have since incrementally expanded their customer base. Check out their Instagram for daily clothing releases and style videos.
635 Veerasamy Rd, #01-148, Singapore 200635. Open from Friday to Sunday, from 12pm to 7.30pm.
When our grandmothers rave about their lives “back in the day”, we somehow always imagine a version of The Great Gatsby party. It’s the way people used to live—superbly carefree and extravagant—that meant what they wore reeked of fabulousness too. Déjà Vu Vintage offers every version of that dream across three categories: vintage, handmade, and designer vintage. If you’re a fan of decadent vintage pieces, you’ll be hardpressed to leave this place empty-handed. And while vintage pieces are notorious for being “free-sized”, the store even offers tailoring services to ensure you never have to look like you’re “borrowing” someone else’s clothes.
9 Raffles Blvd, #01-70, Millenia Walk, 039596. Opens from 11 am to 9 pm daily.
If you’ve ever wondered how anyone cops popular streetwear these days, ask the people at Exit Co. Actually, don’t ask them, they’ll never reveal trade secrets. If you follow their multiple Instagram accounts, you’ll know their knack for sourcing rare finds doesn’t end there. They run up to five accounts dedicated to your different secondhand clothing needs: from “hype” streetwear and sneakers, to curated vintage picks. Visit their two stores at Orchard Plaza and Queensway Shopping Centre, open daily.
8 Grange Rd, #02-04 Cineleisure, Singapore 239695, 1pm to 9pm
1 Queensway, #01-17 EXIT, Queensway, 149071, 12pm to 8pm
On one episode of Netflix’s reality show Singapore Social released in 2019, burlesque dancer Sukki Singapora dragged fan favourite Paul Foster to a vintage clothing store to try on (of course) pink frilly dresses. Well, if you were wondering where they were, it’s a little hole in the world treasure trove called Dust Bunny. After selling vintage clothing for about 15 years, Dust Bunny recently started their own label of limited-edition modern spins on nostalgic motifs and silhouettes in 2015. Visit their Keong Saik store, open 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm weekdays, 1:30 pm to 7:00 pm Saturdays, closed on Sundays and public holidays.
2-A Keong Saik Rd., Singapore 089110. Opens from 1pm to 8pm weekdays, 1.30pm to 7pm Saturdays, closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Contrary to popular belief, shopping vintage clothing is not a new concept, it was merely popularised among kids in the past few years. And neither is it actually a fashion trend, much like wearing stripes or jeans or red lipstick. Just refer to Thriftysecond’s Instagram bio, which pronounces they’ve been established since 1993. Located in the industrial district of Bukit Batok, their selection epitomises the saying that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure: dig through their racks bricolaged with dated references (they’re proudly kitsch!) and find your latest conversation-starter outfit.
1 Bukit Batok Cres, #04-27 WCEGA Plaza, Singapore 658064
Text: Marcus Lee, Shazrina Shamsudin & Khong Yawen/HerWorld
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