Author: Ekaterina Gurevich
Copy Editor: Saadiya Patel
- YSM’s Double Take Thrift Store
Location: 310 Gerrard St. E
Price: Items can be as low as $1, usually in the $10-15 range
Size Range: XS-XL, but you can find smaller or larger things in some sections if you are looking for them
YSM’s is what you picture when you think thrift store! It is a large open space with rows upon rows of clothing racks, their selection ranging anywhere from winter coats to prom dresses. Like any thrift store, a customer searching for their golden wardrobe piece will have to sift through the rows of clothes, but otherwise it is a great store to shop for clothing. On top of clothes, they also offer a range of shoes, accessories and housewares. Anybody on a budget should keep YSM’s on their radar, and if you want to elevate your closet by upcycling some pieces you bought in store, they also host workshops in their Upcycling Studio!
2. Wildlife Thrift Store
Location: 67 Front St. E
Price: Start at $5, most clothes are $5-20
Size Range: XS-XL
Wildlife offers an industrial yet friendly atmosphere to your thrifting experience, still falling under the ‘classic thrift store’ category with their low prices. While you can find some higher end pieces that tend to be on the costlier side, generally their prices are on the lower end, on some days they even offer ‘bargain bin’ sales! Their stock offers a wide range of clothing and accessories, as well as housewares and workwear. Unlike other stores downtown, the store is spacious enough where you’re not bumping shoulders with other shoppers, and if you’re someone who likes to donate to a good cause, Wildlife prides themselves on supporting charities such as Covenant House Toronto and Vancouver, as well as the COAST Mental Health Foundation.
3. Tribal Rhythm Vintage
Location: 248 Queen St. W
Price: $30-120
Size: XS-2XL
Though the name of the store bears the word vintage, it is more of a mix between ‘retro’ style and contemporary clothes. They have a good number of clothing pieces from the 80s, and an impressive wall of coats, jackets and ponchos that can be tried on. Behind the sales counter you will find the pricier pieces, either jewellery or clothes, mostly fur, silver and a few designer things. If you are a lover of silk, leather or cotton, or generally styles from the late 20th century, you will for sure find a piece you like, and even if you are not, Tribal Rhythm is still a must-visit for any secondhand shopper in TO!
4. Mama Loves You Vintage
Location: 541 Queen St. W
Price: $40 and up, some pieces can be in the 200s range
Size: XS-L, some XL if you look, however they are older sizes so they tend to be smaller
5. Garb Consignment Store
Location: 1046 Queen St. W
Price: $80+
Size Range: XS-2XL
A slight deviation from others on this list, Garb is a consignment store, which means that they resell luxury or designer clothes on a discount. They have a long list of designers to offer, such as Giorgio Armani, Victoria Bekham, Louis Vitton and Louboutin, to name a few. You can peruse their collection online or by visiting their store in person, as they offer a wide range of both rare vintage and modern high end fashion pieces, all in great condition. The store itself is clean and well maintained, with the large windows at the front letting in a pleasant amount of natural light. Unfortunately, as it is a store specialising in selling high end pieces, their prices tend to reflect the fact, though their site does claim that they’re 50-75% off of the original retail price.
