Thriftin' & thrivin'

The thrifting business has taken the world by storm and while South Africa is still behind on the joys of shopping preloved, we have compiled a lovely list of our personal favourite Insta thrift stores according to areas for those of you eco-warriors who want to start thrifting but have no clue where to start (you're welcome!)...

So what's so great about thrifting? Easy, its an affordable way to shop vintage name brands, it reduces your carbon footprint by lessening your fast fashion intake of items from retail giants like MRP, Cotton On, Zara and so on AND your bank account will thank you for it as thrifting often includes bargain buys! You are giving clothes that are still in good condition a second chance at finding love, much like your ex-boyfriend/girlfriend...

Without further delay, let's get stuck in - also, just click on the Instagram name of the thrift stores that tickles your fancy and it'll take you right to their socials :)

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KwaZulu Natal (Durban region)

- sugardaisythrift : the cutest little thrifting duo with the best uploads and the friendliest service hands down

- thrifted_by_b : hit them up for some solid vintage pieces and more inclusive sizing. She also does a little video showcasing the pieces for the full 360 visual #muchappreciated

- thethriftyco_durban : stylish preloved & even new items, they always have the cutest summer dresses up for grabs and for COVID, they got super handy with their handmade mask and scrunchie sets

- khiaraskloset2.0 : I associate this babe with all things corduroy so if you need your fix, this is your girl!

KwaZulu Natal (inland)

- burnout_thrift : this babe is based in Hilton and is getting her customer base kitted out for summer with some vintage inspired cozzies & so much more - her uploads never disappoint.

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Eastern Cape (Grahamstown & Port Elizabeth)

- rebel.and.roo : colorful OG thrift staple items like midi dresses of the sweetest floral prints, high-waisted pleated trousers & other vintage dream pieces make this a treasure trove for those bold enough to take a trip down memory lane with pieces that were and now are back in fashion from way back when

- biscuit_thrift : her blooms in her recent posts bring all the Spring feels but not only that, this PE based queen oozes good vibes with her uber cool modelling skills!

- twohands_apparel : couple goals! This couple run their own little thrift store that caters for both males and females plus, they are also advocates for giving back to those in need. The world needs more power couples like this in the world and you know what they say, a couple that thrifts together stays together ;)

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Western Cape (the mother city & the surrounding Cape region)

- tyswardrobebit: probably in my top 3 online thrift stores, high end fashion pieces as well as your typical millenial type wardrobe items are always up for grabs. I won't even try downplay my addiction as I even have post notifications turned on for her posts.

- kalonthrift: this babe has the most amazing boho pieces on her page which are fit for any boho chic human being! And her positivity and cute quotes she posts every now and then are guaranteed to make you smile, even on those bad days..

- lmlw_thrift: two green queens trying to make the world a better place one thrifted piece of clothing at a time.. I love their clean, minimalistic approach to their feed and be sure to also visit their parent company letsmakelesswaste and add some nifty little cotton rounds to your order.

-shop_thecuratedfox: her feed is to die for and her items, even more so! Sometimes I feel like I'm shopping the Zara catalogue just browsing through all her pretty items.

- bitchin.vintage: this little gem based in Kommetjie is honestly vintage trouser heaven - so if you've been looking for the retro mom jean fit or straight leg cut then she has got you covered. Don't dawdle cause her items get swept up super fast.

- crazee_vintage: a colorful feed of retro pieces at crazy amazing prices because vintage shouldn't break the bank and they too, support local charities which brings even more joy to buyers knowing their purchase can make a difference.

-wear.mywardrobe: another tag team bringing all the goods - friendly service, fashionable items at great prices and an aesthetically pleasing feed, what more could a shopper want.. I have a lovely little bodysuit on the way that I'm beyond stoked for.. Please note that they're partly based in Durban too.

- retro.club.thrift: groovy sustainable fashion for men & women with super bright 80's quotes & designs which make my soul so happy. Did I mention they're having a story sale today - don't miss it!

-second.base: I cannot deal with how aesthetically pleasing this boss babe's feed is to look at, I mean just look at all these flowers! Plus her items lowkey give me casual Rachel Green vibes.

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Gauteng (Pretoria)

- shopnicolascloset: this boss babe not only heads Palm the Brand but also has the most amazing high end fashion pieces on sale with items being posted on the daily for you to grab. Glitz and glam heaven is the best way to describe her beautiful feed and best believe her customers have bidding wars to secure their little piece of heaven. Just do yourselves a favour and visit her feed to know what all the fuss is about!

-_mylittleshop_: some real life gems on this lovely feed (the black corduroy jackey that was up for grabs still haunts my dreams) and her packaging is honestly the cutest! She drops new items on the weekly and it always involves a stellar line-up :)

-_nifty.thrifting_: this one's for all you girls with old souls that feel were born in the wrong fashion era because this babe has super nifty vintage pieces (see what I did there 😉)..

- thrifty_thieves: one of the things I absolutely love about this babe's feed is her coordination between her pictures, at one point it was color coordinated and now the vibrant colors and prints correlate to the bright Spring blooms which I find so cute!

- thrift_culture: this feed is seriously bad ass putting middle fingers up to fast fashion - they exude cool with their super fresh styling of their items suited best to lovers of all things streetwear-related. Uploads are done on the weekly, every Wednesday night which makes it super easy to schedule into your routine.

Gauteng (Johannesburg)

- crybaby.thrift: one of the OG thrifting pages on social media but they don't only curb your online thrifting needs, this boss babe has also co-founded Picnic & Thrift, a little sustainable market hosted on a monthly basis at different venues where you can enjoy local music, different stalls and shop thrift simultaneously...

- rethread.za: some of the prettiest items to make their way onto your feed - her selection of stunning items make you want to part with your cash before any self-control mechanisms kick in. And another bonus is her color coordinated feed is suited for any aesthetic shopper..

- secondhandnews.thrift: again, this gem is definitely in my top 3 and it's not just cause of the super cool vintage treasures that can be found on this page, but, because the owner of this page is as cute as a button! She also gives some pieces that extra something-something with her handy needle and thread.. So all in all - super duper friendly service, amazing finds{like thee very best} and her feed is just goals!

- shopzanes.wardrobe: this little Krugersdorp queen was the real deal during lockdown as she was just serving everyone up with exactly what they wanted! She designs her own graphics and has her very own photography page which honestly just pushes her thrift store to a whole level of its own. I've bought from her on many occasions and was never left disappointed...

- theclosetshop_jpl: a team of babes selling stylish modern pieces of preloved clothing, with two new additions to the team there's tons of new stock being posted on the feed. This feed brings you the very best of Zara, Forever New, Cotton On and even some overseas goodies.

- twice.as.niceeee: another team of babes joining forces to bring you cute vintage pieces to the Joburg thrift scene. And can I just take a moment to swoon over their backdrop! Think maxi skirts/dresses, oversized button-ups and sweet jackets & throws too..

I will be updating our list of stores when we do find some other gems that need to be shared with our fellow lazy girls, I know that not all the provinces were covered but I just have not come across many thrift stores in the Northern Cape, North-West, Mpumalanga and Limpopo but should that change, you ladies will be the firsts to know. Our main focus was to cover all the main city centres of South Africa and we included some Eastern Cape finds because their thrifting scene is quite impressive.

That brings us to the end of our #sustainableseptember feature bringing awareness to our personal favorite Instagram thrift stores, I hope that some of these feeds maybe grab your attention and encourage you to reduce your carbon footprint by shopping preloved because clothes need a second chance at life too!