Thrift Shopping in Jamaica: Where to Go and How to Thrift Like a Pro
by Stephanie Koathes Jul 29, 2019
Buying second-hand clothing, shoes, handbags, etc. or thrift shopping, is quite popular in North America, the UK, and Europe. Here in Jamaica, we seem to be much more hesitant about buying used items. That may be changing as more stores of this nature open up.
Thrifting is a budget-friendly way to fill your wardrobe with cute pieces and even find decorations and furnishings for your home.
We’re sharing a short guide to thrift shopping in Jamaica, how to do it, where to go and some of the benefits of thrifting.
Where to go – Thrift shops in Jamaica
If you’re ready to go second-hand bargain hunting, here are some of the thrift shops in Jamaica that you can check out.
Thrift Nature is a thrift and consignment store located on Haining Road in New Kingston. Here you’ll find a selection of clothes, shoes, handbags and other accessories. Thrift Nature also has a curated capsule collection called FlashJam Vintage.
Mukkle Thrift is a semi-annual thrift pop-up shop. It is a non-profit organisation founded in 2017. Proceeds from their pop-up shops go to various local charities. Keep an eye on their social media pages [CD1] for information on when they will be having a pop-up.
Located in Mandeville, you can find clothing, shoes, and accessories at Thrifty Boutique Ja.
Back on the Rack Ja is a charity thrift shop in Kingston, located on Collins Green Avenue. The shop is open every last Friday and Saturday of the month. Proceeds go to the Missionaries of the Poor feeding programme.
The Thrift Link is on Instagram as 876Thrift has clothes, shoes, book, jewellery, and furniture on occasion. Visit their Instagram page [CD2] to see what is available.
How to thrift and why you should give thrift shopping a try.
Here are some tips on thrift shopping like a pro and some of the benefits you’ll get from thrifting.
Be prepared to dig
When thrift shopping, the clothing might not be as organised as in a traditional store. Come prepared to hunt through the racks to find your treasure.
Wear something
It’s likely that there won’t be anywhere for you to try on the pieces you like in a thrift shop, and usually, you won’t be able to return ill-fitting items. Wear a tight-fitting camisole or leggings so that you can try on clothes without needing a private space.
Look for quality
While there’s nothing wrong with picking up a fast fashion item if the price is right, but you’ll get more bang for your buck by looking for quality. Keep your eyes peeled for well-made designer pieces and high-quality materials. Finding a unique designer item for a fraction of the cost is what thrift shopping dreams are made of.
Now that we’ve looked at how to shop in a thrift store, let’s look at a few of the reasons you should give thrifting a try.
Save money
Saving money is one of the biggest reasons for thrift shopping. You can score cute clothing, shoes, even home décor and furnishings for a lot less than purchasing retail. These are expensive times, and it’s great to save money wherever you can!
Support charities
Some thrift shops are run for profit, but many support charities. The money you spend in these places goes back to worthy causes such as help for the homeless or victims of domestic abuse.
Reduce waste
When you buy something second-hand, you’re helping to reduce the amount of waste that ends up piled up in landfills. The airtight nature of a landfill means that it takes fabrics a long time to breakdown. Synthetic textiles such as nylon, rayon, spandex and polyester can take between 20 and 200 years to decompose in a landfill.
Unique pieces
With some digging, you can find some truly unique, vintage or designer items for prices that won’t leave your eyes watering.
Most shops will have some kind of quality control in place, meaning that the items are clean and in good condition for buyers.
Happy thrifting!
If thrifting isn’t for you (we get, we do) then don’t forget to check Yello’s listing of amazing clothing stores!
Sources: Reader’s Digest, One Green Planet, Life Hack
