14 super-cool thrift and vintage shops in Hong Kong to find trendy gems

 

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We love a good vintage band T-shirt. Yes, you absolutely do not need to be a fan of the band to sport it but it does make it better if you do. Retrostone is the place to be for graphic tee lovers. Browse through the stacked piles of the likes of Nirvana to Queen and Red Hot Chilli Peppers. But if band T-shirts aren’t your thing, you can still look through streetwear-style options like denim jackets and overalls as well as flannels. They also have a pretty cool stack of patterned button-ups. Their collection of pop-culture tees ranging from comic characters to franchises like Star Wars are also highlights.

Specialty Items

Graphic and band T-shirts, streetwear clothing

 

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Oh, a thrift shop in Sham Shui Po? How expected. In all seriousness, Sham Shui Po is home to plenty of retro items. And if we’re being honest, it’s the place to thrift. Just look at the flea market or spread out mats of old-school items during the weekend selling anything from Y2K phones to out-of-sale records. The Good, the Bad and the Creative is just one of the stops while on your Sham Shui Po thrifting adventure. Don’t let its run-down storefront shoo you away, this place is packed with nostalgic items from the 80s to 90s. It’s not just clothing but also toys, magazines, posters, cassette tapes and other Hong Kong mementoes. Some of these are from the owner’s own personal collection too. While not a clothing shop, we feel shopping here for memorabilia is a must.

Specialty Items

Vintage Hong Kong items, toys and figurines, magazines and posters, stationery and stickers, homeware

 

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While Daychild Vintage & Goods has a diverse range of vintage clothing, it is truly an American-style thrifter’s dream. The store has goods from different parts of the world and the store owner is keen to change the idea that vintage clothing should only be oversized or used to be vintage. In fact, the options here come in a variety of sizes and are in excellent condition. Other than clothing, they also have handmade goods and accessories.

Specialty Items

American-style pieces such as leather jackets, denim shirts, button-up shirts, cargo pants, leather bags

 

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Blink and you’ll miss Beaniks Vintage Wear and the chance to scour through the racks of secondhand and vintage clothes. From handmade clothes to elegant scarves, and top-of-the-line handbags, we’re sure you’ll find something to your liking. You’ll also love the unique high-end bags that are no longer in production, should you be lucky to score one. Otherwise, the old-school dresses and sweaters are also a treat. It’s like a blast from the past. The store accepts cash only so make sure you bring enough with you.

Specialty Items

Handmade clothes, bags, dresses and designer bags are no longer in production

 

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It’s not a stretch to say that A Break 93 champions sustainability, it’s simply the brand’s way of life. Browsing through the site’s brand story, you’ll notice how even the garment is personified—putting emphasis on the importance of recycling. As such, you can expect A Break 93’s selection to be recycled old clothing. Of course, in superb condition.

Its physical store in Causeway Bay boasts a range of quality pre-owned clothing such as printed shirts and leather jackets. Their selection of retro dresses will have you feeling like you’re getting ready for a time-travelling adventure. If you can’t make a trip to the store, don’t worry! Their online store has a wider variety as well—accessories, secondhand skirts, and even denim items.

Specialty Items

Printed shirts, leather jackets, retro dresses, denim items

 

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On the hunt for high-end vintage items? BangBang70s is the place to be. You’ll be spoiled for choice on the rows of brands like Burberry, Celine, Gucci, Prada, and many others. More than the vintage OOTDs you can score, the store itself is a treat. It’s like you’ve been transported to the set of a 1970s Hong Kong-set drama. Besides clothes, you’ll also find designer shoes and bags, and accessories.

Since BangBang70s only opens from 12 pm to 4 pm on weekdays, be sure to plan your visit accordingly. If you need more time to shop, visit during the weekend so you can stay until 6 pm. Or if pressed for time, it’s best to look at their Instagram page to see what they’re already selling to give you an idea of what to get.

Specialty Items

Designer vintage items from brands such as Burberry, Gucci, Prada, and more ranging from shoes, bags, clothing, and accessories

Green Ladies is all about giving back to society. This social enterprise operated by St. James’ Settlement aims to change the consumption habits of Hongkongers, give secondhand clothing a second life, and empower women by introducing them to the labour force.

When it comes to describing the place, three words come to mind: spacious, industrial, and colour-coded. If anything, the ultra-organised clothing racks will leave you thinking, “Dang, we really are throwing away this much stuff at the environment’s expense?” It’s true (unfortunately), and thanks to Green Ladies for putting it into perspective.

Now, the responsibility of ending the cycle of waste falls on your shoulder, and your next step is quite simple—grab a few items of clothing and cherish them for years to come. You will find a range of garments and accessories suited for anything from your nine-to-five routine to retro throwback parties or a weekend stroll downtown. And trust me, the price is more than right. With multiple locations across Hong Kong, what’s your excuse not to visit?

Specialty Items

Secondhand clothing catering to women ranging from formal attire to casual wear

(Image credit: sjsgreenladies/Instagram)

 

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Does the family name Freis mean anything to you? Or are you just really into florals? If yes, Little DOT Vintage will be your next favourite place. An upper-floor shop situated in buzzing Tsim Sha Tsui, Little DOT Vintage is so stereotypically Hong Kong while faintly reminding you of the vintage clothing stores in Harajuku, Tokyo.

You can spot its neon sign from miles away, right beside new arrivals screened in enigmatic retro patterns and pinned against the window. A quick glimpse of the store’s Instagram or Facebook page would make one thing pretty clear: more is more under this roof. Think about everything that reminds you of the ‘50s to ‘80s fashion: loud prints, you got it. Ruffles and drapes, you bet. Colours, lots of them.

Specialty Items

Colourful vintage clothing from Japanese and local brands, think colourful, dramatic, and sometimes a little extra

This one’s for the gents. Established in 1993, Midwest Vintage bridged the secondhand clothing markets in Russia, Eastern Europe, and Asia until transforming into a retail location to cater for the public’s need for authentic, American attire.

Think about quality, variety, and individuality. You might not physically be in the 50 states, but the worn-in denim, bandanas and grunge band T-shirts would beg to differ. To get the full US shopping experience, visit Midwest Vintage’s Etsy shop here.

Specialty Items

Men’s American-style vintage items such as denim, vintage T-shirts (especially bands), denim, accessories such as bandanas, leather jackets

(Image credit: Midwest-Vintage/Facebook)

Thrift shopping in Japan, South Korea, and USA is a whole unique experience. But thanks to Mee & Gee, you get to experience a little bit of that in Hong Kong. This store is all abo racks to its racks of affordable yet trendy vintage items. Find yourself spending hours, digging through a treasure trove of their signatures—Hawaiian shirts, British football jerseys, Japanese baseball uniforms, baggy denim, Y2K-style goods, and more. It’s no surprise it earned an almost cult-like following among thrifters.

Mee & Gee now has four stores in Hong Kong—Central, Wan Chai, and two in Mong Kok. In the rare case that you can’t find something you fancy in the Central branch, you can always head over to Wan Chai or Mong Kok. 

Specialty Items

Hip vintage items such as football jerseys, baseball uniforms, denim, and other Y2K-style clothing

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Calling all streetwear lovers! Mercury in the da house is your streetwear slash vintage store haven. But what makes this store even better is owner Raymond and his pure love for vintage clothing. You’ll likely find him manning the shop and donning vintage items himself. So, feel free to ask for style advice too if you want to be dressed to the nines.

Have fun looking through endless rows of clothing and shoes for both men and women from brands like Supreme, Stussy, and Visvim. An added treat is the pop culture memorabilia and various knicks and knacks all over the store including records and toy figurines. The shop only opens from 4 pm to 8 pm so make sure to plan ahead.

Specialty Items

Streetwear brands such as Stussy and Supreme on top of old records and toy figurines

Get lost in Vintage Maze, a hub for all the retro merchandise. Cluttered (read: loosely organised in a system that just works) with novelties, trinkets and clothing trawled from across the world, this store is a retired world adventurer’s attic conjured up for your patronage.

A maximalist at heart with a taste for old Americana aesthetic, Vintage Maze attracts flocks of like-minded individuals with its extensive line-up of T-shirts, printed bowling shirts and denim outerwear. Browse to your heart’s content as time freezes and nostalgia fills the air. Vintage Maze also has multiple stores across Hong Kong, so it’s time to go shopping.

Specialty Items

Vintage T-shirts, printed bowling shirts, denim

(Image credit: vintagemaze/Facebook)

 

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What sets The Fresh Trench apart from the other thrift and vintage stores is that it only welcomes guests via appointment. That way, it provides some feeling of exclusivity but also intimacy. Until most recently, the store only sold online but given the high demand, they have started to accept visitors.

You can shop quietly while digging through the various handpicked garments. Whether you’re looking for oversized hoodies and jackets or hand-printed Y2K T-shirts, they have plenty of that. After all, their mission is to “deliver the freshest dimes from the trenches”.

Specialty Items

Oversized hoodies, jackets, and sweaters on top of Y2K and hand-printed T-shirts

 

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You’ve probably heard of the phrase “old but gold” which means that while something is old, it is still of good quality. At Old But Gold, they take that phrase to heart by offering affordable secondhand clothes and other vintage items. A look at their Instagram page will give you an idea of their mission. They host regular thrift-up pop-ups in Jardine’s Bazaar with special themes, discounts, and promotions. Find everything from denim to accessories and footwear. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for their latest events on their Instagram page.

Specialty Items

Themed regular pop-ups, everything from clothing to accessories and footwear