Thrifting, the practice of purchasing second-hand items, has become increasingly popular in recent years. It’s not just about saving money, though. There are many benefits to thrifting that go beyond just the financial. Here are some reasons why you should consider thrifting for your next shopping spree.
1. Sustainability
The fashion industry is notorious for its impact on the environment. From the use of water and chemicals to the carbon emissions of transportation, the production of new clothes is a significant contributor to pollution. Additionally, when clothes are discarded, they often end up in landfills, where they can take years to decompose.
Thrifting is a sustainable option because it extends the life of clothing that would otherwise be thrown away. By purchasing second-hand items, you’re reducing the demand for new clothes and helping to keep usable items out of landfills. Thrifting is an eco-friendly choice that helps to reduce your carbon footprint.
2. Uniqueness
When you shop at mainstream retailers, you’re likely to find the same items as everyone else. Thrifting, on the other hand, offers a unique shopping experience. Each thrift store has its own selection of items, and you never know what you’ll find. You may discover vintage pieces that are no longer available in stores or one-of-a-kind items that you won’t see anyone else wearing. Thrifting allows you to express your individuality and stand out from the crowd.
3. Affordability
One of the most obvious benefits of thrifting is the cost savings. Second-hand items are typically much cheaper than new ones, allowing you to stretch your budget further. You can find high-quality items for a fraction of their original price, which means you can get more for your money. Thrifting is an excellent way to find bargains and get the most out of your shopping budget.
4. Higher Quality
Many items you find while thrifting are of higher quality than what you might find in mainstream retailers. This is because they were likely made to last, rather than being produced quickly and cheaply. You can find items made from higher quality materials, such as wool or silk, that are more durable and will last longer than their cheaper counterparts. Thrifting allows you to get high-quality items for a fraction of the price.
5. Supporting Local Communities
When you shop at thrift stores, you’re supporting local businesses and communities. Many thrift stores are run by non-profit organizations or small business owners. By shopping at these stores, you’re helping to support local economies and contribute to the growth of small businesses. Additionally, some thrift stores donate a portion of their profits to local charities, so your purchase can make a positive impact beyond just your wardrobe.
6. Nostalgia
Thrifting can be a nostalgic experience. You may come across items that remind you of your childhood or a certain time period. This can be a fun way to reminisce and relive memories. Additionally, you may discover items that have a unique history, such as vintage band tees or concert posters. Thrifting allows you to connect with the past and add a touch of nostalgia to your wardrobe.
7. Experimentation
Thrifting is an excellent way to experiment with different styles and trends. Because the items are affordable, you can try out new looks without investing a lot of money. You can also mix and match items from different eras and styles to create a unique look. Thrifting allows you to be creative with your wardrobe and try out new styles without breaking the bank.
In conclusion, thrifting has many benefits beyond just the financial savings. It’s a sustainable option that helps to reduce your carbon footprint. It allows you to express your individuality and find unique items that you won’t see anyone else wearing. Thrifting is an affordable way to get high-quality items that are made to last
When it comes to the vintage scene, Boston is starting to make a serious footprint. There are all kinds of vintage stores across the US that have a stronghold in areas that are both remotely and in crowded cities. From LA to NY there are hundreds of some of the most iconic vintage stores packed with original Levis and adorable swing dresses. Many times, these stores are the places that Hollywood turns to for outfitting dated movie and television scenes. In fact, one of the names on this list has been featured in many movies across the big screen and they’ve been in Boston this whole time!
What is vintage? The term “vintage” and “antique” oftentimes overlap when spoken about from day to day. In terms of “true Vintage” we, at Diversity Consignment reference that phrase to anything that is at least 20 years old. Many department stores and boutiques will carry new “vintage inspired” outfits that may contain elements that one would commonly see in a vintage piece. These elements could include natural frays, dyes, or patina characteristic of a true vintage, aged garment. Not as good as the real thing in my opinion.
For this list we scoured the internet and by car for places within our home-town, Boston, Ma. in search of the absolute best true vintage stores in the area. There is no particular order to which of the top 5 is better than the others; this list is more of a comprehensive list of high-quality true vintage stores within Boston. Get ready…Go!
Bobby From Boston is the OG Boston vintage store. It was established in 1995 by the true legend Bobby Garnett. Bobby started off his career in the vintage game by establishing his personal collection and growing it into his personal showcase. He must have been a true pioneer at the time when vintage clothing certainly didn’t have the mainstream buzz that it does today.
He eventually evolved his personal collection into an internationally sensational storefront. Bobby From Boston has outfitted countless movie sets and inspired incredible fashion designers. They have thousands of pieces from every era throughout fashion history. I believe that they do not accept anything later than the 80s to be brought into their showcase for sale.
Prices are on the higher side of second-hand outlets; however, you are sure to find exactly what you’re looking for and more! Today, Bobby From Boston is run by Bobby’s daughter Jessica since his passing in 2016. Jessica continues to run the warehouse with the legacy of Bobby in mind while adding her own creative twist.
The warehouse is absolutely massive. It’s barely even a store really. There are thousands of garments and outfits from every era imaginable. The focus is certainly male-oriented but as we know, anything can be and should be worn by anyone. The place is a museum of hand-picked gems and should be recognized as one. Maybe it will be someday!
They are currently located in their warehouse at 545 Washington St. in Lynn, Ma. Bobby From Boston is exclusively open to the public on Sundays from 11-4.
40 South St. in Jamaica Plain may be one of Boston’s greatest hidden gems. The store has been in business for over 30 years and run by former rock star Hilken Mancini. Hilken was a rock star from the golden age of punk and was a member of bands such as Fuzzy, The Count Me Outs, and Shepherdess.
The store brings out that punk rock energy in such a terrific way. There are hundreds of true vintage gems all over the place! Included in the inventory are vintage rock shirts, womenswear as well as a vast selection of menswear. The place is a real vibe and Mancini contributes to that energy in a great way. She really is the queen of vintage Boston. It is easy to get lost in the mix of colorful 60s, 70s, and 80s fabric.
The store is certainly on the smaller side and is loaded with clothing. The place is vibrant and colorful. It is located at 40 South St. in Jamaica Plain, Boston. The store is open Thursday 12-6, Friday 12-6, Saturday 11-6, and Sunday 12-5. Definitely come check it out!
It’s pronounced “VeeVaunt”! Vivant Vintage pays homage to the rebirth of clothing. After all, the word vivant itself is the French word for life. Vivant Vintage has that goal in mind; to resurface life into cast-away and discarded clothing, shoes, and accessories and wow are they giving them life!
From the Traveling Spectacular cart owner Justin Pomerleau constructed in 2011, to the brick-and-mortar store he has today, Justin has created a legacy. So detailed, in fact, you can read the play-by-play history on the Vivant website. It is a true American Dream brought to life.
Vivant Vintage is housed in a unique location within Allston. It is close by to a candle factory so oftentimes there is a fresh candle-making scent lingering nearby. I think this adds to the charm of the shop. The store itself is organized in a very aesthetically pleasing organized clutter. Not to say that it is cluttered, because it certainly is well organized. The store just screams vintage. Hundreds of vintage jeans. Everything there is hand-picked by Justin and his team of experts. Nothing is not vintage, and that passion shows. They have an excellent selection of all things old but jewelry in particular is what stands out the most. Check it out for yourself!
Vivant Vintage is located at 318 Lincoln St, Allston Ma. They’re right there at the end of the footbridge. You may also see Justin and the team on the road as they stick to their roots by regularly scheduling pop-ups throughout various marketplaces in Boston.
Another vintage shop in Boston with humble roots in the street markets is High Energy Vintage. High Energy Vintage began on the streets of SoWa Vintage Market in Boston’s South End. In 2012 they were able to secure their first location in Teele Square, and in 2016 they moved to their current location at Union Square.
High Energy Vintage is one of those places that once you’re there, you never forget. The place is decked out in neat decor and childhood nostalgia (I guess if you were a child near the time I was, at least). The place is laced in vibrant, colorful clothing and some staple classics. Think 1980s as a store front and you’ve envisioned yourself within the walls of High Energy Vintage. The owners really do bring the energy when it comes to the decor and the vibes. They have a fairly large storefront and always have plenty of gems to choose from at very reasonable prices.
High Energy Vintage is your 1 stop shop for all things nostalgic. They even have a rad selection of vinyl records and VHS tapes! Also, I have to admit, their Tiktok and social media pages deserve more views and likes than they get. The marketing is absolutely fabulous!
Find High Energy Vintage at 429 Somerville Ave. in Somerville, Ma. They’re open every day except Tuesday. You can also find High Energy Vintage on the road as well! They’re oftentimes setting up shop at the local markets and have a schedule to see where they’ll be right there on their website.
Certainly, the oldest vintage shop on the list is the Great Eastern Trading Co. Originally created as an army/navy surplus store in 1969, Great Eastern Trading Co has a long and detailed history. I won’t go into all the details within this article, but the information is readily available on their website. The current owner, Nephtaliem McCrary has brought the store to the forefront of the “modern” vintage scene of Boston.
With locations in Cambridge, Malden, and Somerville, the Great Eastern Trading Co has roots that stretch to all corners of the city. The stores themselves are what you would want to walk into when desiring something different. The store specializes in true vintage garments and costumes. They have a huge selection of the perfect costumes for any party/event and especially Halloween. The stores are stocked full of eclectic displays and decor. The characters are really brought to life anytime someone tries something on and poses for a photo for the web page or social media.
When I tell you this place has energy, this place has energy. There are gorgeous styles from all eras (20’s – today). Owner McCrary really loves to test the limit of sanity with the fun stylings and displays inside and outside of the store. You can find all sorts of fun events scheduled on their website to keep you in the loop of what’s happening within the vintage world. Be sure to keep Great Eastern Trading Co on your list of must-see vintage shops in Boston.
Conclusion
So, there you have it! My list of the top 5 true vintage stores in Boston. Like I said, Boston is on the rise for cool and eclectic vintage shops, and I hope that this list guides you. Don’t forget to check us out as well! Diversity Consignment has been doing its thang, although I would not consider us a true vintage store, we definitely carry some awesome vintage stuff!
I hope that more stores carry on the tradition of recycling clothing and forgotten gems. The world could use more funk and I love to see the future generations rockin’ some unique stylish stuff as opposed to the cookie-cutter styles ugly department stores continue to push on us. Stay humble, stay cool.
You keep hearing that vintage is where it’s at but you really don’t understand what makes an article of clothing vintage vintage, or as those in the industry call it “truevintage.”
For the first half of my career in the consignment industry, I was in the same place as you. I focused primarily on sourcing designer pieces and had no true knowledge of what vintage clothing was, so don’t worry! It’s time to take a crash course in the vintage marketplace. This can be a sensitive topic for people who dedicate their lives in the vintage game. If you want to be a snob about it, the comments section below would be a great place to toss on the gloves.
I’m here to give you a basic understanding of what vintage means in terms of clothing. This will include the following; what dates qualify as vintage, single stitch tees, and what the future holds for vintage clothing.
Classification
Prior to getting started in dating vintage clothing, I think it’s important to give a little history on the term “vintage” itself. Prior to recent times (the past hundred years), the word vintage was predominantly used in the wine industry. When a wine was referred to as vintage, it meant that the wine was at least 20 years old.
“Aging like fine wine” is a common saying meaning aging well. This concept has been applied to clothing since the mid 20th century. It may seem novel today, but trust me when I say that your parents may have also been deep in the vintage game. Top celebrities of prior generations were also known to rock vintage couture.
I, personally, will accept the term true vintage being applied to any article of clothing produced at least 20 years in the past. This means that every year there will be a new production line of clothing being classified as “true vintage.” Some may disagree (including wikipedia) and say that true vintage only applies to items pre-dating the year 2000 or a range starting at 30 years in the past. In my opinion, 30 years doesn’t allow enough growth for the vintage market we live in today.
That being said, if you have a Dead & Co. Liquid Blue tie dye tee with the year 2002 imprinted on it, I would classify that as a vintage piece. In fact, these garments are now being appropriately labeled as Y2K pieces. Now, if you have a 2010 reproduction AC/DC t-shirt; I would not yet qualify that as vintage.
What is a Single Stitch T-Shirt?
A single stitch t-shirt is actually something that is pretty easy to identify. When you look at a t-shirt seamline by the cuff of the sleeve or at the base of the shirt (where the material was folded over to create a seamless ending) you will see 1 of 2 things. You may see a double seamline or a single seamline.
A single seamline (single stitch) does not always mean that a t-shirt is vintage. The same can be applied to a double seam line. I, personally, have seen hundreds, if not thousands of single stitch t-shirts throughout my career. Some brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch and Polo Ralph Lauren will actually include single stitch seamlines in modern-day t-shirts, while some Liquid Blue shirts and concert t-shirts that pre-date the 2000s will have double stitching.
More commonly than not, a single stitch t-shirt will be vintage. Brands that were commonly manufacturing t-shirts within the vintage era were using the single stitch method of production. Some brands that are commonly seen on true vintage t-shirts are; Screen Stars, Fruit of the Loom, and Hanes.
Made in USA
Another simple identifier for a true vintage article of clothing is the tag including the manufacturing location as “Made In USA” in some form or another.
Up until the late 90s and early 2000s most of the clothing seen worn by the general population was manufactured in America. I’m not going to go into detail about manufacturing being outsourced to other countries outside of the United States and the ethics involved. There has been a lot of coverage in this subject to the point where it is considered common knowledge.
The point is this; when you are out sourcing for true vintage, a helpful identifier is the piece being made in the U.S. Again, this is not always true. Many leather garments in the 90s, 80s, and prior were manufactured in Korea, Pakistan, and other areas. Hong Kong was also a common manufacturing place for designer brands such as Christian Dior and YSL in the 80s.
Oftentimes, someone “back in the day” needed to actually travel outside of the United States to source garments that were produced elsewhere. So, if you do come across an article of clothing that has all the tell-tale signs of being true vintage and was manufactured outside the U.S. don’t be so quick to count it out!
The Future of Vintage
This is where things get a little tricky. The future of vintage is starting to look a little shaky. The main reason is due to the quality of clothing being produced today.
With the rise of brands within fast-fashion industry producing poorly manufactured articles of clothing, I’m not even sure that clothing will hold together for at least 20 years. It’s almost literally being manufactured out of trash. Actually, I think trash might be manufactured stronger than some of the materials being used today. So what does that mean for the vintage game?
What I foresee this meaning for the vintage game is two-part.
The first option is this; we will really only be able to qualify aging designer pieces as vintage. To clarify, high end designer brands or collectible brands such as BAPE, Comme des Garcons, and Gucci will certainly withstand the wear and tear of time and will cross into a vintage era. Other brands will not be desirable enough to cross into that exclusive class.
The second option for “other” brands will be to become classified into eras. Think about what Y2K style has become. I really feel like this is the only other option. Maybe with more time they can cross over into the general classification of vintage, but I feel like we will have to re-define what the timeframe for vintage is at that point.
Conclusion
Vintage can be difficult to identify depending on the piece in question. Some easy identifiers are single-stitch and Made in USA tags but don’t automatically assume that every article that falls into these groups is true vintage.
The future of vintage is looking bleak. It’s hard to imagine classifying a Forever 21 top manufactured in 2014 as a “vintage piece” and I don’t think that it will ever be. I think it would fall under some variation of 2010’s style.
With this in mind, it will be ever-difficult to source true vintage pieces. The more time that goes by, the harder it will be to find vintage clothing in the wild. Hold on to what you have! Values may continue to reach all-time highs.
I realized while writing this article that there really is so much involved in the classification. Too much, in fact, to include in a basic tutorial. Maybe at some point I’ll write a book on the subject.
Diversity Consignment Blog 