All my favourite clothes are from Facebook Marketplace, here’s why you should try it 

“I’m certain these jeans would have been labelled ‘Y2K’ and marked up to around $90 on Depop, when I had found them for just $20 on Marketplace.”

There’s a lot of variety in how people prefer to shop for clothing – some want to hasten the experience, running into a shop on a mission, while many like to shop online to cut out the IRL browsing experience altogether. There’s a special bunch, however, myself included, who love the thrill of the chase. When it comes to shopping, I love the hunt.

Tracking down vintage treasures online to then blend into my wardrobe gives me a feeling of joy I can’t quite explain. I’ve been a Depop user since I was 14 years old and as a high school student, I could afford to buy from the app (way before the Y2K revival took over). I still love to browse on Depop, but will reluctantly admit that I can’t afford to shop on it regularly anymore. 

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As a university student working multiple jobs part-time, money is tight. But my love of fashion, and in particular, secondhand clothing, hasn’t gone anywhere. My Depop finds used to make up a significant percentage of my wardrobe, but these days, I’m lucky to find something cute, my style and high-quality for under $80. 

I turned to Facebook Marketplace (or FB-Marky, as I fondly call it) late last year, wondering if it would serve as a cheaper alternative to Depop (and also because my mum insisted her best furniture finds were all on Marketplace). The first thing I searched for was fabric, which I’m constantly on the hunt for as a passionate designer and maker of clothes.

I’m not the biggest fan of firsthand materials, preferring vintage or handed-down textiles, because I find they’re generally more unique and of a higher quality. To my delight, I found bolts of fabric, bags of offcuts and boxes of ribbons, trims and embellishments, all at impressively affordable prices.

In an excited frenzy, I talked to lots of sellers and made a few deals, impressing myself with my ability to negotiate. In the following days, I drove to various places not too far from my house to pick up my new finds. The back of my car was full of fabric and sewing supplies, and I was astounded by how damn cool Marketplace was. 

After a few weeks of picking up fabric from around the city, it crossed my mind that I could probably find some cool clothes on Marketplace too (my fabric finds had been impressive, so why not?). The first piece of clothing I bought off Marketplace was a pair of jeans. They were my size, the perfect wash (if you know, you know) and they had these incredible knots all down the sides of the legs.

I bargained my way down to $20 including postage and waited eagerly for the pants to arrive. A couple of days later, the parcel arrived and I tore it open excitedly. I threw the wrapping aside and tried them on straight away, delighted to find they were a great fit. I felt amazing in them. It was then I decided that FB-Marky was my new Depop.

From the years of secondhand shopping experience I’ve accrued, I’m certain these jeans would have been labelled ‘Y2K’ and marked up to around $90 on Depop, when I had found them for just $20 on Marketplace. The search continued, and I browsed the pages when I had a bit of cash to spend. I did what I usually do when shopping on Depop – entering keywords for what I’m trying to find, or describing the ‘aesthetic’.

I saved anything I liked, coming back to them when I had some spare money or found a gap in my wardrobe. The next gem appeared in a search when I was housesitting. I decided to look on Marketplace because I was bored and because my trip to the op shop that morning had not provided the goods. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw a blue, tartan crossbody bag that looked like a kilt.

The location was listed as right near where I was staying, and the price was $20. I picked up the bag an hour later, and sat in my car, turning it over in my hands in slight disbelief. This kilt bag was one of the coolest pieces I’d ever seen, and it was mine (for only $20 and a bit of luck!). The bag is now a staple in my wardrobe, and adds so much interest to any outfit.

It also attracts comments and compliments regardless of where I am or what I’m doing – even if I’m walking down the street with headphones, I’ll get stopped and asked where the bag is from or be told how cool it is. It has its own little belt and when you flip it over, there’s a screenprint of a naked bum à la traditional Scotsmen, which I love showing people when they compliment me on the bag.

Over time, I’ve continued my Marketplace wardrobe-building, browsing occasionally for fun or when I find a gap in my wardrobe. My latest finds include a vintage leather Olga Berg shoulder bag, two pairs of kitten heels and an authentic DKNY bag that’s perfect for a night out. My tips? I recommend reading my advice for shopping on Depop and applying that to Facebook Marketplace. Keep an open mind and don’t be afraid to ask sellers questions and negotiate. You might just find your next gem! 

For tips on how to consciously shop secondhand clothing, try this.