Buying Less New
When we buy secondhand, recycled, or upcycled things, we are contributing to the use of pre-existing resources and can save still viable and usable items from ending up in the landfill. Just because an item is used, doesn’t mean that it can’t be used again or that it has no more value.
There are so many fantastic options for secondhand shopping in the downtown core. Whether you are looking for clothes, housewares, books, or something else entirely, downtown businesses have got you covered!
Value Village
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Located at 1810 Store Street, Value Village is a treasure trove of secondhand items from clothing to shoes to housewares to games and more. You never know what you might find there! They also have a super easy drive-up donation drop-off if you’re looking to declutter your space!
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Salvation Army
The Salvation Army began working in Canada in 1882 and has become one of the largest non-governmental direct providers of social services in the country. They offer assistance to children and families, provide shelter for the homeless and those struggling with addiction. The shop on Johnson Street has a wonderful collection of clothing and other gently used wares.
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Flavour Upstairs
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Flavour opened in Victoria in 2003 as a secondhand and vintage store. Over the years, they began selling new clothing and accessories too, as well as expanding to include two new Vancouver locations. They have a fabulous selection of fashions for everyone, whether you’re a fan of vintage or modern, secondhand or new. If you’re looking for some fantastic upcycled pieces, this is the place to check!
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Upcycle Collective
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Upcycle Clothing Collective is a curated consignment shop, featuring contemporary, everyday, and vintage fashions. Located on Fort Street, they sell good-quality clothing, jewellery, and things for the home. To consign with them, make an appointment to drop off your items and you will get 40% of the sale price when your items sell!
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Duchess & Duke
Duchess & Duke is a consignment store filled with fabulous fashions as well as beautiful locally made jewellery and gifts. They sell clothing for men and women in modern styles and vintage classics, ranging from the 1940s to the present. The store is a community that cares about reusing and recycling and loves to help find the perfect new home for your items. Or to help you find new treasures for your collection.
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WIN Resale Store
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Women In Need (or WIN) assists women in our community to have a voice and to have access to healthy and financially sustainable lives for themselves and their families. They are a wonderful local non-profit, which takes our donations of clothes, housewares, and furniture, and resells them to help fund their social programs for women. Come down and help a good cause, while also supporting the reusing of material resources!
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Bastion Books
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Bastion Books is located down Commerical Alley in the beautiful and historic Bastion Square. They are a second-hand bookstore, which stocks both vintage and contemporary titles across a wide variety of genres. They have comfy chairs and a children’s nook and their friendly staff would love to help you unite with the perfect book.
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Russell Books
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Russell Books is a family-owned and operated bookstore on Fort Street. They stock new and used titles, as well as calendars, notebooks, cards, and more! They have something for everyone in their large collection, including genre fiction, books for children and youth, travel guides, and cookbooks!
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Vintage After Death
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Vintage After Death is a wonderful vintage clothing store, located in Market Square. They offer a hand-curated collection of classic, unusual, and eccentric fashions, accessories, and curio, all of which is twenty years old or older. With a friendly and low-stress shopping experience, they want to foster a culture of recycling in our community and help you find the perfect piece for your own style at now sacrifice to the Earth.
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Thrift/Craft Alternative Art Supply
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Thrift/Craft Alternative Art Supply is located in Market Square and is filled with unique treasures for artists of all ages, talents, and interests. From vintage magazines to gears to Scrabble tiles and so much more, there is something for everyone here. The store also accepts donations of art supplies, if you’re looking for a new home for crafting materials and want to help keep supplies out of the waste stream.
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Thank you for helping keep wonderful still useful things from the waste stream and thank you for supporting the local downtown businesses who help to recycle and upcycle those things, just for you!
