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While destructive fast fashion brands and habits dominate many people’s closets, we can also see buyers tending toward more sustainable apparel refreshes, whether that’s by buying from eco-friendly labels or from second-hand boutiques. While we understand the human need for newness and beautiful things, going for preloved clothing contributes to reducing the staggering 92 million tonnes of textile that’s being wasted yearly.
As some forward-thinking actors of the fashion industry look to reestablish the truth around common preconceptions about the vintage world, most now agree second-hand is by no means a step down from a new garment. In fact, vintage and second-hand store racks are often lined with items that won’t go out of fashion so soon, and that you can wear and wear and wear again. And it’s not just fashion—vintage is an encompassing lifestyle. Join the preloved gang with our list of the best vintage and second-hand stores in Hong Kong so you know where to go next time you feel the urge to shop!
Hipster 9 has an inventory filled to the brim with vintage clothing, accessories, and homeware items. Head here for a wide range of one-off items, designer handbags, and statement accessories. You’ll have to make an appointment to visit its showroom, but you can browse the selection on its Facebook page beforehand.
Hipster 9, Room 1107, Hong Man Industrial Centre, Chai Wan | (+852) 6975 8509
Featuring a carefully curated selection of vintage and antique items, Vintage 1961 highlights ornate items and exquisite craftsmanship. Its emphasis on classic elegance isn’t coincidental—the 1961 in the shop name refers to the year in which Audrey Hepburn’s iconic film Breakfast at Tiffany’s was released.
Reflecting its refined décor of floral curtains and antique lampshades, the store sells an assortment of European jewellery and accessories, from sensual brooches and antique handheld mirrors to Victorian tea sets and clothing.
Although it used to have a physical store, Vintage 1961 has switched to an online business presence, so you can efficiently browse the extensive catalogue on its website. Unless you’re a part of the “try-before-you-buy” crew, scrolling rather than digging through heaps of clothes sounds good to us. If you’re interested in visiting a physical store, keep an eye on its Instagram for pop-up store announcements!
A tiny treasure trove filled with knick-knacks and doodahs, thingamajigs, and whatchamacallits. Clocks, cameras, vintage metal ad signs, and stereos line the walls from floor to ceiling. Typewriters, rotary dial desk telephones, figurines, and vintage ashtrays clutter the shelves. You can also find vintage furniture and dinnerware there, and a whole corner of glasses and shades by Mido Glasses. Music is blasted from speakers, playing vinyl records spun on a gramophone. The fame of this vintage haven has spread worldwide, so visiting during the weekdays is probably your best bet if you don’t want to be jostled around by tourists.
Select 18, 14 Tung Street, Sheung Wan
Affectionately known as “the $5 store” by many, Mee & Gee is a unisex clothing store with a vast collection of incredibly affordable second-hand and vintage apparel. Contrary to its nickname, prices aren’t capped at $5, but clothes are organised onto racks and separated by price. Its cluster of stacked apparels might take hours to sift through, but if you’ve got time on your hands, there are plenty of hidden gems to be found in every corner. With its racks on racks of Hawaiian shirts and gaudy silk shirts, it’s also a great place to get pieces for a themed party in a pinch.
True to its name, this clothing store stocks a range of apparel and accessories from the 60s and 70s, from handmade décor to statement coats with rad prints. Garments come as eccentric as its funky interiors, with some made from repurposed textiles, frumpy dresses that are transformed into trendy playsuits and more. This treasure trove has also been known to stock an array of now-discontinued designer collections, as well as military surplus jackets.
Beatniks, 21 Bay View Mansion, 11–33 Moreton Terrace, Causeway Bay
This second-hand store may not stock exclusively vintage items, but its branches boast an extensive range of fashion items, ranging from clothing to shoes, handbags, and accessories. Give your possessions a second life at Green Ladies via the consignment service, provided your items are in good condition and in style.
The social enterprise aims to reduce waste and the environmental impact of the fashion industry through its consignment service, hoping to combat the habits that have led to a whopping 339 tonnes of textiles being disposed of into Hong Kong’s landfills on a daily basis. Its sister shop, Green Little, also provides all the same services for children’s wear, meaning you can dress your kids responsibly, and introduce them to a sustainable way of living all at once!
A sustainable and vintage kitsch lifestyle and clothing shop formed in partnership with the original store in Harajuku, Bunkaya Zakkaten is filled with quirky pieces for the alternative fashionista. Its branches are home to a collection of items both imported and homemade, with products such as its “must win” socks in collaboration with Hong Kong design brand Luddite, and its very own lap saap rubbish bag geared towards Hong Kong residents specifically.
Ironically, the original location in Japan has since closed down, leaving the Hong Kong outpost with the task of continuing the brand’s legacy as the underground-but-not-really-underground destination for trendy outfits and home décor.
Frocks, headpieces, and beaded purses line the shelves and racks of this vintage store on Granville Road. An explosion of colour and print, Little Dot Vintage specialises in vintage womenswear from the 1950s to 1980s, sourced from Japan and the US. Aside from the stereotypical accessories and clothing you’d expect to find in such a store, it also sells a variety of vintage Barbie dolls, perfect to entertain either your child or your nostalgic self. It you’re into places that have a cool history, know that the shop owner specifically chose to open shop on a first-floor level to pay tribute to the “upstairs shop” that used to be common in Hong Kong in past eras.
Little Dot Vintage, 1/F, 47 Granville Road, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852) 6356 3049
Feeling the urge to wear the latest fashion trends isn’t always synonym with hurting the environment. Enter Hello Hippie, taking the “fast” out of fast fashion. Established in 2014, this online store specialises in revamping and redesigning old items and textiles into pieces that suit contemporary styles better, such as ribbon vests, jorts, and corset tops. You can also find vintage items such as 1960s suitcases and handheld cassette players, as well as unique accessories like quilted earflap caps and crochet beret imported from across the globe.
If you’re a fan of band tees, you’ll love Retrostone. Retrostone has stacks on stacks of vintage band tees, modified patchwork pants, overalls, vests, and plenty of denim. Stocking all things oversized, tie-dyed, and distressed, Retrostone is the perfect place for fans of a more menswear-inspired outfit.
Retrostone, Shop B04 & B23, Basement, Trendy Zone, Chow Tai Fook Commercial Centre, 580A Nathan Road, Mong Kok | (+852) 2152 9697
For over 25 years, Midwest has specialised in sourcing one-of-a-kind vintage US fashion clothing and accessories. Its stores are a slice of Americana, filled with knick-knacks ranging from Hawaiian shirts to old Thermos bottles. With quality at the core of its service, Midwest ensures all items are professionally dry-cleaned before they are placed for sale. The shop also established its own labels using upcycled vintage fashion and deadstock fabrics. If you prefer to stay in the comfort of your own home, you can also browse its products on the online reseller.
Ditch the young and beautiful (cue Lana Del Rey)—Abroom is all about finding the rare and beautiful instead. It offers a range of vintage clothing from the 1990s and 2000s, as well as handmade silver jewellery. The “rare” part of its tagline comes into play with the supply of products—its entire clothing collection is single-piece only, emphasising a sense of uniqueness that couldn’t be further from fast fashion.
Abroom, 6/F, CTMA Centre, 1N–1S Sai Yeung Choi Street, Mong Kok
Shop till you drop at Hula, as the physical location of this beloved online marketplace for preloved designer womenswear is filled with pieces from designers like 3.1 Phillip Lim, Alaïa, Balenciaga, Celine, Chanel, Chloé, Isabel Marant, Saint Laurent, and Valentino. Each item is carefully sourced and vetted, so authenticity is guaranteed.
If you choose to buy online, you can try items on at either its Central boutique or its Quarry Bay warehouse, given that you contact the staff first so they can ensure they have your wishlist on hand. If you’re curious about how to distinguish knockoffs from real designer brands, the difference between preowned and preloved, or other fashion-related questions, you can also check out its blog-esque journal.
Hidden inside an industrial building in Tsuen Wan, this vintage select shop’s motto is to fight fast fashion “grannie-style” by selling different types of vintage goods and other eco-friendly products. You can find plenty of long floral dresses in all colours, plus shirts in various states of print and pattern. Vintage earrings and other miscellaneous accessories are also available to complete the stylish grandma look, proving once and for all statement items never go out of style. Aside from vintage items, more modern items that enable green living such as reusable straws, organic soap bars, and bags made out of recycled bottles are up for grabs, too.
Grannie Kiddie, 12/F, 36 Pak Tin Par Street, Goodwill Industrial Building, Tsuen Wan | (+852) 6718 7697
Local environmental charity Redress, with the aim of readdressing fashion from a non-fast fashion perspective, has opened up a physical location after holding pop-ups for a decade. Its Sham Shui Po store sells second-hand clothing, shoes, and accessories selected from donations, and updates the racks regularly to keep things fresh. Here, you’ll find womenswear, menswear, as well as children’s wear. As plenty of celebrities are involved with the charity, its catalogue often includes high-end couture wear and designer digs at a fraction of their retail price.
Redress Closet, 78 Ap Liu Street, Sham Shui Po | (+852) 2861 0360
With how quickly kids can grow out of their clothes, a kidswear marketplace only makes sense. Retykle is an e-commerce platform for parents to buy designer children’s clothing at steep discounts, and also to sell pieces that no longer fit. Items range from new with tags to gently worn, from over 2,500 high-end brands such as Bonpoint, Petit Bateau, Moncler, Vilebrequin, Jacadi, and more. Retykle also hosts regular pop-ups, so stay tuned via the Facebook page here.
Retykle Showroom, 8/F, 44 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Sing Teck Building, Wong Chuk Hang | (+852) 3594 6533
Promoting conscious consumption and a mindful lifestyle, Jup Yeah is a local platform that facilitates clothing swaps, online and offline. Its name in Cantonese means to “take things” or “tidy things,” building upon the notion that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. It regularly hosts pop-up events, mobile wardrobes, and “shareables” charity talks around Hong Kong, a practice initiated over a decade ago in 2011. These events welcome all eco-enthusiasts, crafters, and creators to hopefully lead to enlarging the green community in Hong Kong. Whether you want to participate as a vendor or a shopper, remember to follow its Facebook page for details!
While Hong Kong’s vintage fashion scene is dominated by edgy workwear and denim drips, this hidden gem takes an alternate route by focusing on European-inspired styles. Angel’s Paradise Vintage boasts an elegant curation, from silk blouses to graceful floral dresses and intricate waistcoats. Its timeless garments, imported from Japan, are pieces of history given second life in our modern day. Frequent customers can sign up as members to accumulate points and receive news on the latest stocks. If you want to visit its showroom, make your appointment here.
Angel’s Paradise Vintage, Room 903, 9/F, Pakpolee Commercial Centre, 1A–1K Sai Yeung Choi Street South, Mong Kok
Some may think vintage fashion is dated “rubbish,” but Rubbish B treats them like priceless treasures. This antique and vintage outlet sells designer accessories, such as watches, rings, belts, and scarves. Among its labyrinth of intriguing knick-knacks, its handbag collection is the most impressive. You’ll discover a vast assembly of clutch bags, cross-bodies, and purses arranged on glass shelves, hailing from distinguished brands like Hermès, Celine, and Ferragamo. For those looking to invest in their first luxury vintage bag, here’s a store to add to your bucket list.
Rubbish B, 8/F, 66 Sai Yeung Choi Street South, Mong Kok
First published on 18 February 2019. Written by Amanda Sheppard. Last updated by Punita Chan and Stella Li.
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