Besides reducing the need for fast fashion, thrifting can be a stupendous and sustainable way to shed stress. Some secondhand stores even contribute part or all of their profits to great social causes. In this way, Miami has shown itself to be a caring community, without sacrificing style and prices.
Below are the best five spots for local thrifting. They would meet the standards of any Miami-based fashionista.
THE RECYCLED CLOSET URBAN CONSIGNMENT
8867 SW 132nd St., Miami
(305) 233-6744
therecycledcloset.com
The Recycled Closet is a spacious shop with garments usually separated by color. The shop carries brand-name clothing from designers such as Fendi, Gucci, Marc Jacobs, and Prada at around 70 percent less than retail price. In addition, it has a clearance section, where discounted prices are lowered even more. An evening Zara dress is priced at $10. Low lights give a cozy feeling despite the place’s large size. Besides clothes, they carry belts, jewelry, and purses, all for women. It’s a great place to find a designer blouse and some funky shoes. Their stuff is not that unique, but the store has a vast selection and comfortable dressing rooms.
SWISH BOUTIQUE
771 NE 125th St, North Miami
(786) 482-8780
swishboutiquemiami.com
Once you find this tiny North Miami shop, step in and you will be enchanted by its great organization. Here, old school rock and roll serenades you as you browse genuine leather jackets, cowboy hats, and even traditional Japanese umbrellas! Racks are coordinated with outstanding pieces including an exquisite assortment of purses on top. Even though the selection includes lesser-known brands and less classic pieces, Swish has arranged its unique finds well. Also, prices are low. They range from $6 for T-shirts and $24 for some jackets.
OUT OF THE CLOSET THRIFT STORE
2900 Biscayne Blvd., Miami
(305) 764-3773
outofthecloset.org
To greet customers at the door, Out of the Closet has set up a living room of warm tones. There is a wall of books at the end of the shop composed of five bookshelves placed side by side. They hold colorful books of all genres priced at $2 each. Several furniture pieces, kitchenware, and home appliances look almost new and are exceptionally priced. You can find a microwave ranging from $5 to $10. There are also shelves for DVDs, CDs, vinyl records, and more. But it is when you notice the AHF Pharmacy on a corner, the rainbow flags, and several clinical booths inside the shop that it is apparent Out of the Closet is much more than a thrift store. Ninety-six cents of every dollar spent at the shop goes to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which helps people who live with HIV/AIDS, regardless of their ability to pay. The store offers free HIV testing. No paperwork is needed from patients, making the transaction fully private.
You can visit the AIDS foundation site for further information on how to help.
DRAGONFLY BOUTIQUE
3141 SW 8th St, Miami
(833) 757-5327
dragonflythrift.org
The Dragonfly boutique is one of the top spots to find bits and pieces of beautiful rarity. Having practically new furniture brings allure to the shop. There is a small selection of clothes as well as a collection of art and home décor. Dragonfly is divided into two sections. The first one includes racks of designer blouses and dresses, with blouses at $10 and pants and dresses at $20 or $30. There is also a walk-in living room that transports you into your dream home. Most importantly, Dragonfly works directly with the Ladies Empowerment and Action Program, donating 100% of the shop’s proceeding to provide retail training and future job references as well as a source of income for women released from prison.
For more information about how you can help, please click here.
LOTUS HOUSE THRIFT CHICK BOUTIQUE
2040 NW 7th Ave, Miami
(305) 576-4112
lotushouse.org
Lotus House Thrift Chick shelters the dreams of previously and currently homeless women and helps them begin a better future by employing them and providing retail and visual merchandising training as well as marketing strategies. In addition to that, the store has a coffee shop where interns from the Lotus House Women’s Shelter are trained as baristas. They also have their own nursery and planted pots in the shop’s backyard, where they can learn how to grow spices. This boutique curates its pieces by size, type of garment and color scheme. Lotus House carries brand names such as Banana Republic and Mango. They have a designer corner that includes more expensive pieces of clothing and jewelry, where you could find South American silver and genuine gold. There’s a Chanel scarf, a Louis Vuitton handbag for $35, and more. Toys, books, accessories, and furniture brighten up the place. Although some pieces are new, the majority of the merchandise sold in the shop comes from donations. Before hitting the racks, the donated materials cover the basic clothing and housing needs of the interns, including interview outfits that otherwise they couldn’t afford.
You can support their cause and get involved by clicking here.