From thrift to designer - your guide to Seattle secondhand fashion

As you might have guessed from the Billboard hit song, “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore, a Seattle native, secondhand shopping is a big part of Seattle’s fashion culture. Not only is secondhand shopping more cost-effective than buying new, it’s also the eco-friendly choice. In a world of fast fashion, new styles come out in a constant flow, instead of the more timeless and durable styles of the past. The result is that in the United States alone, more than 10.5 million tons of clothing end up in landfills every year.

Buying secondhand preserves resources otherwise used to make and transport new clothing, and gives used clothing another chance before it is downcycled or landfilled. And of course, these are great places to take your unwanted fashion items, and you might even come home with some extra cash!

You can check out our full Seattle secondhand fashion map on Google Maps right away, or read on for our top recommendations by category.

Vintage

If you’re looking for a Seattle Sonics jersey, or you’re dressing for an 80’s theme party, you’ll certainly find unique pieces here:

Fremont Sunday Flea Market – Vendors vary week to week, but always include at least a few vintage clothing vendors!
Lucky Vintage (Ballard and University District)
Red Light Vintage & Costume (University District)
Throwbacks Northwest (Capitol Hill) – Vintage apparel and hats for Northwest sports teams

Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash

Thrift

I’m sure we can all agree that saving money is a huge part of the appeal of secondhand clothing shopping… So it’s important to point out the thrift shops that make help us go green while saving plenty of green while we’re at it… Here are my favorites:

Goodwill (Many locations. My favorites are: Ballard, South Lake Union, Capitol Hill)
Lifelong Thrift Store (Capitol Hill)
Out of the Closet (Capitol Hill)

Photo by Artificial Photography on Unsplash

Specialty

Sugarlump (Stevens) – Consignment store for maternity and kids’ clothing from infant to school-age plus books & toys.
Two Big Blondes Plus Size Consignment (Judkins Park)
Blue Sky Bridal (Phinney Ridge) – Eco-oriented wedding store for consignment & used gowns & accessories, by appointment.

Photo by Johannes Waibel on Unsplash

Trendy

Here you’ll find recognizable brands in current styles:

Crossroads Trading Co (University District and Capitol Hill)
Buffalo Exchange (Ballard and University District)
Plato’s Closet – Okay, technically Plato’s Closet doesn’t have a Seattle location, but the Bellevue location is one of my favorites – always packed with great finds!

Photo by Pete Bellis on Unsplash

Designer

Eileen Fisher Renew (Columbia City) – A unique store specializing in one-of-a-kind pieces made from repaired and recycled Eileen Fisher clothing
Alexandra’s Designer Consignment (Downtown)
Jules Boutique – formerly Driftwood Consignment (Madrona)

Photo by Melody Jacob on Unsplash

View the full map

Check out our full Seattle secondhand fashion map on Google Maps. Be sure to give the list a follow! That way, you’ll be able to find it anytime by clicking Your Places > Saved > Seattle Secondhand Clothing Stores in your Google Maps menu. With your help, we’ll keep the list up to date. If you notice any inaccuracies or missing stores, please submit a note through our contact form!