Have you heard of Second Hand September? It’s an initiative of the British charity Oxfam. The British charity is calling for this in September, which is actually fashion month par excellence with fashion shows from New York to Milan. I can wholeheartedly support this initiative, not least because I have been shopping in second-hand stores and consignment stores for over ten years.
Before I come to the Munich tips, I make a little detour to New York, because this is where I’ve perfected the second hand buying and selling. In almost every lunch break, I browsed through the clothes at Designer Resale, a legendary Upper East Side boutique now called Designer Revival. I found incredible treasures. But I didn’t just buy vintage, I also sold my stuff. Therefore, I often spent my Sundays selling my no longer loved pieces at Beacon’s Closet or Crossroads. So my wardrobe was constantly changing and my wallet was always full. Here in Munich, too, I have largely maintained this habit and have since found my favorite shops. Even if the range of really good shops is a bit smaller, there are also very nicely sorted stores.
Where to get rid of your used fashion in the most sustainable way
People have different approaches: for some, the wardrobe is getting fuller because they can’t give anything away. Whereas others prefer a more minimalist lifestyle and regularly clean out their closet. And some give away a piece every time a new item finds its way into their wardrobe. Do what feels best to you, but make sure to not just give away your clothes anywhere. Some just might be trashed while there’s also quite a nasty market of shipping clothes to African countries and selling them there. Thus hurting local garment industries. Designer clothes should always be handed down to someone else (or sold in selected stores) and also your well-preserved Zara piece sells well in some shops.
How to find stylish second hand and vintage fashion
Vintage fashion helps to develop your own individual style. In most cities, there are small boutiques that commission and resell used fashion. They choose exactly what they want and what’s in season. Some stores are now also offering second-hand clothing along with sustainable fashion brands. In addition, if you’re lucky you might be able to find almost unworn designer fashion at reasonable prices.
To be able to combine your fancy pieces well, find basics that are not subject to any trend (e.g. a classic white shirt or a leather jacket) that you can combine in many ways to avoid buying items that will remain unworn in the coming seasons.
Munich has some well-stocked second hand shops where you can find stylish clothes from Zara to Acne. Here are my top three:
iki M. Vive la Bohème
The well-selected boutique iki M. in Barerstraße sells stylish second hand and vintage fashion, sustainable jewelry, and jeans by Armedangels. You will find very pretty blouses and dresses here at any time of the year. The selection is colorful and feminine. I’ve also put my own clothes up for sale a few times and that worked out wonderfully. The concept works like this: the store selects which garments are accepted in commission, you decide the price together and share half of the proceeds. By the way, in addition to Second Hand and Slow Fashion, there is also a small sustainable collection of t-shirts and sweaters. If you don’t make it to Barerstraße, you can also shop at iki M. in the well-stocked online shop.
Address:
Adalbertstrasse 45
Opening hours:
Mo – Sa 11 am – 7 pm
Contact:
Telephone: 089-954 938 25
Herrenabteilung/Damenabteilung Second Hand Shop
In the Westend, just opposite the Marais and Marais Soir you will find the Herrenabteilung/ Damenabteilung.Enter the boutique Parke 6 on the ground floor and find it’s is the second hand department just below in the basement. In addition to second-hand clothing, you can also find showroom pieces from Danish brands. The selection features classics ranging from H&M to Gucci. Especially with designer clothes, you can make some bargains here. Again I have already sold successfully and the concept works as with iki M.: everything that was not sold here after three months can either be taken home again or left right there. Unsold products will then be donated to a selected charity.
Address:
Schwanthalerstr. 56
Opening hours:
11 am – 8 pm
Contact:
Telephone: 089 21111843
Exit Store – First and Second Hand
The Exit Store is a small store in the Glockenbachviertel on Pestalozzistrasse. Here you can bring all the clothes, which are a little more fashion and less basic. Exit offers stylish designer fashion above all. That’s why you’ll certainly find something here if you have a slightly more individual style. For example, I immediately fell in love with a leopard dress and a pair of Chloé high heels. You will always find something with leo or snake patterns, some gold, fancy cuts, and bright colors.
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