Lovers of Y2Kcore will dig the curation at Ssaltythrifts. Started in 2020 by Jenevieve Ow when she was in her first year of studying at a local polytechnic, Ssaltythrifts was the fruit of Ow’s own personal love of sourcing secondhand clothing.

“I wanted to try something new. We first started selling on Instagram and did occasional pop-up events with other local vintage stores and organisations,” she explains. “My aim with Ssaltythrifts is to encourage people to be more sustainable and show that second-hand shopping is for everyone. I hope to make clothes live longer on this planet.”

However, managing her studies and business proved to be a challenge, so after completing her diploma in April of 2023, Ow decided to take a gap year off to focus on her business. This led to the opening of her physical space, where customers can shop her racks.

On the curation front, Ssaltythrifts is known for targeting styles like Y2K, fairycore and grunge, so expect to find plenty of baby tees, crop tops and tanks, mini skirts, cargo pants, vintage sunglasses, outerwear and bags that fit the theme. Brands run the gamut from unknown labels to the likes of Ed Hardy, Coach and Armani Jeans. There’s also a selection of vintage tees from @spooder.grail, and Ssaltythrifts also houses different accessory vendors every month as a way of supporting other local accessory designers and providing customers with a variety of bijou to pick from that would compliment Ow’s clothing curation. “I want to ensure consumers have a complete shopping experience.”

#04-40 Orchard Plaza; opens Tuesday to Sunday, from 1pm to 7pm

Matthew Tan and Desiree Chang first conceived a fashion business called Woofie in 2019 as an avenue where they could sell curated denim jeans and pants that were sourced from Japan. However, in 2023, after recognising that there was a large audience looking for quality thrift stores, they introduced Woofie’s Warehouse, which they’ve proudly termed “the First & Best $10 thrift store in Singapore”.

“Our journey in thrift selling started as a hobby, and we used to do pop-up events,” say the founders in a joint e-mail reply. “Eventually, we decided to move the business to a brick-and-mortar store to target a wider audience of people rather than mainly ladies’ apparel that we previously specialised in.”

Today, Woofie’s Warehouse sits in Golden Landmark Shopping Complex just off Bugis, and is still run by Tan and Chang, who are both undergraduates at the National University of Singapore. Customers who step into their cosy space will find a wide range of items from T-shirts, jackets, denim jeans, as well as seasonal items like Harley Davidson merch and secondhand nylon windbreakers from the likes of Adidas and Nike that are only available in limited quantities, and a good mix of accessories like caps and belts.

“We try not to restrict ourselves in terms of the product mix, and we also try to provide a size-inclusive range of clothing,” they say.

#03-31 Golden Landmark Shopping Complex; opens Fridays to Tuesdays from 10am to 8pm 

Pronounced as “wear”, Weare is a labour of fraternal love. Started by Ian Thio and his brother Jachin – aged 19 and 21 respectively – in February this year, they bonded over clothing and the shared experience of thrift shopping. “We got to try new fashion styles without having to burst the bank, and thrifting let us “put on” different personas,” the young brother recalls. One thing led to another, and Weare became a reality. 

Joined by their friend Ashley, the thrift store overflows with a hodgepodge of finds that can range from Woodstock-esque ponchos and preloved Dickies trousers to corsets and track jackets made from other vintage pieces. Other star products include a wide range of racing tees, hand-picked Harley Davidson merch, band tees and more. The $5 pile is also a hit with customers, who range from authors, musicians and influencers to families looking to spend the day thrift shopping.

At the heart of the business, the trio want their customers to try on fun new styles at affordable prices. After all, as Ian notes, thrifting can be quite expensive for younger shoppers and the trio set out wanting to make thrifting feel more accessible to their peers.

This past April, they also held their first physical thrift event called WeareHouse, which let shoppers peruse affordable thrifted apparel and accessories, play games and bond as a community with a shared love for thrifting. “We will also be having another event in late October to welcome the festive months ahead and celebrate the end of examinations for many students in Singapore. ​​But we can’t reveal too much because it’s meant to be a surprise,” Ian teases. 

#03-05A Queensway Shopping Centre; opens daily from 12pm to 8pm

Started by ex-fashion buyer David Pan two decades ago, Ashitagaaru developed because Pan was inspired by the local pop scene in the 1990s. “During those days there was a popular star search program named Asia Bagus, and I remembered that the hosts Najib Ali and Tomoko Kadowaki would style themselves in really funky retro style outfits,” he explains. “I wondered if Singapore could possibly develop a vintage fashion scene of its own, which led to the opening of Ashitagaaru”.

Despite being open for 20 years, Pan maintains an unchanged consistency in the curation of the vintage collection in the store. Ashitagaaru’s strong suit is in leather pieces, and as Pan says, “there will always be an amazing leather outfit waiting to be discovered by you in the store”. 

This means that fans – both new and old – can expect to find a wide range of secondhand genuine leather jackets in a multitude of different materials, functionalities, styles, manufacturing periods, and countries of origin. In addition to these, Pan also stocks a selection of pre-loved fur coats, leather vests, leather bottoms and skirts, as well as a selection of denims for those looking for something more climate-friendly.

#02-45 Peninsula Plaza; opens daily from 12:30pm to 8pm 

Run entirely by Gen Zs, this store which is situated in the 195 Pearl’s Hill enclave, is a collective of many vintage and pre-loved businesses under one roof. One of them is Shibuigarm, which specialises in curated vintage pieces. A look through their rack and you’ll be able to spot brands like Hysteric Glamour and Tsumori Chisato (who once worked with famed Japanese designer Issey Miyake). If you get lucky, you might spot certain designer pieces from Loewe and Dior.

Another curated second-hand store operating within Anteiku is Faerydium (from the same folks behind the popular Gen Z jewellery label Erydium), which specialises in fairy-core, grunge clothing. Other businesses here include Ekiybho (specialising in hand-sewn, reworked apparel); Foolish Matter (carrying a wide range of vintage graphic tees); and Pins and Shades which is known for their cargo skirts and shorts.

 195 Pearls Hill Terrace, #02-63; opens Friday to Sunday, from 1pm to 9pm

Cherry Thrift Shop, which started off as an online business in 2022, focuses on various styles of womenswear apparel. Run by Cherry Pretty and her mother, the store was set up to share her joy for thrifting and raise awareness of sustainability. “I got the business registered so my mom could eliminate the strain and physical labour of her previous job,” she adds. Cherry’s approach is simple: affordable and good quality pieces that aren’t going to break the bank. Expect floral tops, printed maxi skirts, lace satin tops, and many crochet tops.

She diligently goes through each piece to ensure customers get their money’s worth and don’t end up discarding their buys. The store’s location is also intentional – Peninsula Plaza is a usual haunt for the Burmese community in Singapore, with Pretty herself being Burmese.

#05-15 Peninsula Plaza; opens Tuesday to Sunday, from 1pm to 8pm

Jermaine Ho started Plop Apparels as an online pre-loved fashion business in 2020 to declutter her wardrobe. Today, it has blossomed into a full-fledged physical space located in the heart of Haji Lane and is a popular go-to spot for Gen Z.

Besides stocking vintage and pre-loved items, Ho also wants customers to experience and experiment with different style here. She is solely behind the curation of everything in the store, bringing in pieces from UK-based slow fashion brand Stephanie Liasis, as well as regional brands like Made By Illustration from Vietnam. Plop also has a whole host of sunglasses, handmade jewellery from local labels like Affirmation Club and Rebel Label, cowboy boots and Y2K-esque bags (we spotted some Coach and Von Dutch) to peruse.

17 Haji Lane; opens Tuesday to Sunday, from 1pm to 8pm

A popular destination for its Harley Davidson tees, camisoles and messenger bags, the two-year-old Re:Drmg in Haji Lane is a treasure chest for those looking to incorporate nostalgia into their wardrobe. The name of the store has a rather poetic backstory. Says its owner Karen (she prefers to go by her first name only): “The ‘re’ refers to the process of repeating (reusing and recycling) clothes so they are given a new lease of life. The “drmg” is the short form of dreaming because, at that point of time (when I started Re.drmg), I was trying to find myself and what I could do; it was a way to tell myself that even if you fail at something, you can always try again.”

39 Haji Lane; opens Monday to Friday, from 2pm to 8pm, Saturday, from 12pm to 8pm and Sunday from 1:30pm to 8pm

Tasstore was initially started in 2018 by a husband and wife team on resale platform Carousell as a way for him to sell off his collection of ’80s and ’90s graphic tees. It began to gain a steady following over the years, leading the owners to rent a space in Bras Basah Complex to host monthly pop-ups before they finally settled on setting up a physical store in the basement of Peninsula Complex in 2021.

The wares here are always deep-washed and disinfected before they hit the shelves. The store has also expanded beyond selling T-shirts, and now offers outerwear, bags and even reworked clothing. For those wondering what the ‘Tas” in the name stands for, it’s an acronym for ‘thrifted and selected’ and is inspired by the now defunct supermarket chain Shop N Save.

#B1-24 Peninsula Complex; opens daily from 12pm to 8pm

Prior to setting up The Cartel’s, owners Purland Rizki, Taufiq and Zulhilmi ran a streetwear clothing line called Parlo.Co. When the trio realised there wasn’t much appreciation for it, they decided to change course and set up The Cartel’s in mid-2021, focusing on affordable vintage-style apparel. They do carry the usual graphic tees, windbreakers and sportswear, but their USP is pre-loved sneakers.

Rizki shares that the sneakers you’d be able to find are usually lower than what they originally retail for as he wants people to be able to get a pair without having to fork out a large sum. Look forward to Nike Dunk’s and Air Force’s in an assortment of colourways and designs at a fraction of the original price.

44 Haji Lane; open daily from 12pm to 9pm

Part of the attraction that thrift shopping has to offer is that it’s entirely circular and eco-focused. Items of clothing that have been loved once now get a second (or third) life before ending up in a landfill. This exact mindset of finding a way to keep fashion fun and sustainable led former fashion designer Raye Padit to open The Fashion Pulpit in 2015.

“It was hard for me to wrap my head around the idea that the fashion industry champions “empowerment and positivity”, but in reality, it is doing the opposite to our environment and the people behind the industry,” Padit tells us. “This is where The Fashion Pulpit – a permanent swapping fashion space came about! One location, swap anytime, and bring everyone. Not only will you be able to swap from the best selection of pre-loved fashion pieces, but you can also now upcycle and learn fashion tricks all in one place.”

The Fashion Pulpit works pretty simply. Think of it as thrifting, but instead of paying for it with money, you are paying for it with your own clothing. Members who bring in their own clothing to swap will accumulate points, and these points can be used to get other clothing within the store. Not entirely sure of signing up for a membership yet? Each item is tagged with a cash value so you can just walk in a pick out a couple of items to check out.

#02-08 OUE Downtown Gallery 

Additional reporting Khong Yawen