The best op shops in Melbourne to add to your list
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CLAUDIA FISCHER
WORDS BY MAGGIE ZHOU
Vintage, designer, well-loved? Here’s where to find it.
You know that slightly smug smile people give you when you ask where their clothes are from and they sympathetically reply with a brandish of their arm, “Oh this old thing? Sorry, it’s secondhand.”
Well, I want to be the one bearing that news. I want to be the one dressed in a vintage faux fur coat, in tattered cowboy boots and a well-loved leather jacket (perhaps not all at once).
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Thankfully, Melbourne is a treasure trove of good op shops. While we are spoilt with many online thrifting options, it’s just not the same as breathing in the musky, dusty air and being able to caress racks of preloved garments.
Shopping secondhand is also a great way to participate in the circular economy; by purchasing used clothes, you are helping to extend the lifecycle of a garment. But it’s important to keep in mind that op shops aren’t void of any ethical issues either – overconsumption and gentrification can still run rampant, so choose to shop consciously at this selection of Melbourne op shop hot spots.
Sacred Heart Mission Op Shops
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Sacred Heart Mission has 13 op shops across Melbourne, which all strive to help people in the community experiencing homelessness and struggling to find food, shelter and clothing. Find a quirky, unique piece in one of the shops across the city, or shop online with Sacred Heart’s new online op shop.
433 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065
The Ashy Op Shop
Located in Ashburton, this op shop works to support the Samarinda Aged Care home. You’ll find a range of homewares, clothing and technology items in tip-top condition when you comb through the Ashy’s shelves.
285B High Street, Ashburton VIC 3147
Vinnies
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Affectionately known as Vinnies, St Vincent de Paul Society has over 100 op shops in Victoria. A home for clothing, household goods, furniture and bric-a-brac, Vinnies uses its funds to help marginalised groups such as low-income families, people experiencing homelessness, refugees and Indigenous Australians. Vinnies stores span multiple Melbourne suburbs, with locations in suburbs like Brunswick, Ascot Vale, Coburg and Hawthorn.
276 – 278 Bay Street, Port Melbourne
Toorak Op Shop
If you’re on the hunt for second-hand designer pieces, Toorak Op Shop is the place you need to start looking. You’re guaranteed to find your new favourite vintage, high-end garments, shoes or accessories within these walls.
1A Carters Avenue, Toorak VIC 3142
Salvos
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There are over 100 Salvos stores in Melbourne filled with clothes, homewares, accessories, bric-a-brac and more. All profits from your purchases help fund The Salvation Army programs. If donating, you can drop off your preloved items at a nearby store or enquire about a doorstep pickup. Shop in locations like Fitzroy, South Melbourne and Abbotsford.
747 Nicholson Street, Carlton
Brotherhood of St Laurence
Another big name in our not-for-profit sector is The Brotherhood of St Laurence. With just over 20 stores here in Melbourne and Greater Geelong, this chain of op shops not only helps to raise funds for community programs, but also assists people in developing their workplace skills.
12A High Street, Northcote
Savers
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Rightfully so, Savers’ tagline is ‘the recycle superstore’. This global secondhand retailer has been slinging used goods for over 60 years now and has landed in over 300 locations with 21,000 employees in total. You’ll need a massive bag and a lot of free time to work your way through its gigantic stores.
33 Albert St, Footscray
To learn more about the importance of the circular fashion economy, head here.
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