A beginner’s guide to thrift shopping in Toronto

While vintage shopping has become its own trend in fashion circles in the city, the OG secondhand shopping โ€” thrifting โ€” hasn’t gone away. Whether it’s because you don’t feel like spending $30 on a T-shirt or because you love the thrill of the find while sorting through piles and piles of clothes for a few gems, thrift stores in Toronto still have their perks.

There’s clearly still a demand for it โ€” Goodwill recently announced it will be expanding in Canada by opening more than 40 stores over the next five years due to the increasing popularity of thrift shopping. If you’re looking for places to up your thrifting game this spring, Toronto is home to an abundance of thrift shops ranging from household names to family-owned joints. Here are five thrift stores around Toronto for you to check out next time youโ€™re in need of a wardrobe change.

Value Village


Value Village is one of the most popular thrift stores in North America. The brand has stores all over the country, accepting donations at most and offering customers great deals on used clothing. Their location at 639 Queen St. W. is a new concept store that takes a boutique approach to thrift shopping โ€” offering an experience that leans further into more curated vintage shopping that supposedly caters to Torontonian shopping habits. Value Village Boutique carries clothing for men and women, as well as home decor.

Double Take


Located at 310 Gerrard St. E., Double Take thrift store is your one-stop shop for all thrifted clothing needs. The store offers womenswear and menswear at extremely discounted prices and features a few luxury names. Advertised on their website are names like Burberry and Christian Dior, which you can take home for less than $30. Double Take is also an employment initiative from Yonge Street Mission, meaning all proceeds go towards the organisation. You’ll also find an artist-in-residence section in the store โ€” artists can sell upcycled/refashionedย products at a reduced consignment rate, and you get the chance to shop local and environmentally-conscious artisan products.

Goodwill


Although they donโ€™t have a sizeable presence just yet, Goodwill is looking to make a name for itself in Toronto. Goodwill announced that it would expand into Canada with plans to open new stores across the country, including Naigara Falls, Waterloo and Burlington. Currently, Goodwill has a donation centre in Toronto and stores in Mississauga and Oakville. They offer similar apparel to Value Village, as well as home furnishings.

Market by the Pound


Market by the Pound is revolutionizing the way thrift shoppers purchase clothing. Located at 55 Orfus Rd., the store has clothing spread out all over the floor in massive bins. Once shoppers enter, theyโ€™re able to rummage through the bins before cramming it all into their shopping carts. None of their clothing has price tags, however, as the store goes by a weight system. Every pound of clothing is just $4.99, giving shoppers the chance to shop for (extra, extra) cheap.

Common Sort


With locations in the Annex, Riverside and Parkdale, Common Sort is a more elevated and curated thrifting experience. The brand buys clothes directly from customers at a reduced price, offering shoppers the chance to earn store credit (or cold, hard cash) for clothes they’re looking to get rid of. Common Sort curates their clothing based on current trends and shops seasonally, meaning shoppers have the chance to get their hands on trendy, stylish clothing at a fraction of the usual retail price. You’ll find the clothing at Common Sort has been vetted well โ€” they only accept items in solid conditions, so no suspicious stains or hidden tears. The options range from fast fashion finds to true vintage items to some higher-end brands. While prices aren’t as cheap here as other thrifting spots, it’s the place to go if you don’t feel like putting in the work of sorting through piles of clothes and want to leave with a purchase or two in hand.

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