13 Online Thrift Stores to Shop for Holiday Presents (and 6 Popular Thrift Store Finds that Make Great Gifts)
The big pre-Christmas sales are over, and although a lot of brands are still serving up sweet deals every minute, it might be time to start thinking about alternative ways to source your holiday gifts this year. As thrift store aficionados here at Sustainable Baddie, we love to head to our fav secondhand stores this time of year. Thrifted gifts might not be the go-to option for the people on your list who send you annotated wishlists with links included, but you can discover loads of one-of-a-kind gifts that will surprise and satisfy the less particular (and more sentimental) people on your list. Think crazy vintage kitchenware, the world's best funky sweater, or a vinyl record that’s a relic of a forgotten era. We came up with a thrifted gift guide for thrifters of all experience levels, so everyone can source the best finds. Our guide outlines the best online sources for thrifted gifts and our fav unique gift ideas that you can find at your local thrifting hotspots.
Vintage Kitchenware:
You can never go wrong with gifts for the host. Sourcing vintage homeware, decor, and kitchenware is one of our favorites when it comes to gifting. For example, a vintage Pyrex baking dish will bring joy to anyone who knows what it's like to spend three days rolling out layers and layers of homemade phyllo dough to make homemade babka from scratch. If you don’t have the time or energy to make your way to a store near you, here are a few of our favorite online secondhand spots for kitchenware:
1.Noihsaf Bazaar: Beginning on Instagram, Noihsaf Bazaar is a one-stop shop for vintage and high quality finds, including kitchenware and home decor. Noihsaf is our go-to for all things crunchy, cottagecore, and coastal grandma. Their selection of vintage glassware, funky kitchen accessories, and handmade ceramics make for a selection of one-of-a-kind gifts.
2. Etsy: This database of indie shops can be overwhelming, but with the right tips, you can definitely find some great gifts! Take advantage of all the filters you can when searching for vintage finds. We like getting specific, with searches like “Mid Century Modern Vintage Kitchenware.” It is important to note that Etsy as a company has received criticism for taking advantage of its independent sellers. However, since it is still the largest online crafts emporium of its kind, Etsy remains a massive resource for indie sellers. We do like using Etsy as a starting point in our search for fun vintage gifts, but you can always reach out to the seller directly to find out if there are more equitable ways to shop their store!
Secondhand Electronics:
The holidays are a great time to ask for updated tech accessories (hint: it's time to trade in that iPhone 7)! However, e-waste (electronic waste) is a major pollutant, and it can be difficult to find sustainable ways to gift technology. Lucky for us, there are many brands that are working to eliminate the impact of e-waste by restoring tech back to nearly-new quality and selling it at an affordable, below-market price.
3. Back Market: We all have that friend who loses their airpods every other week, or a family member who refuses to stop using their flip phone. This year, surprise them with a new (to them) electronic device. You can purchase good quality and restored electronic devices at lower prices. Believe me, no one on your list will even know that the new tablet you got them actually lived a whole life beforehand. Back Market also allows you to choose the quality of the product you buy (in case you don’t feel like getting the nicest thing for your cousin who regularly drops his laptop directly on the floor).
4. eBay: If you are a Millenial/Gen Z cusp like many of us on the Susty Baddie team, you may remember the world of trying to find refurbished iPod Nanos on eBay, or trying to sell your old Wii remotes for some extra cash. Well, eBay remains a great source for finding refurbished electronics, both new and retro. Maybe your Aquarius brother has been dreaming of returning to his old Game Boy ways. Surprise him with a great vintage electronic find!
One of A Kind Clothes/Accessories:
This time of year can get spendy, so for your friends and family who have more expensive taste, opt for secondhand and lightly used designer gifts. You can find a lot of vintage designer clothes at thrift stores in your area or online, but here are two of our go-tos for finding easily accessible luxury gifts.
5. The RealReal: We all know someone who is either the first to rock the latest designer looks, or just tell you everything about them. Surprise your luxury design-loving friend with an off-market find from the RealReal. Maybe they have been eyeing a pair of Cult Gaia slides, or Ganni Chelsea boots. Whatever it is, they will be both shocked and honored that you were able to find it for them this year!
Funky Vintage Finds:
For the people in your life who love a statement piece or a fresh new accessory to show off at their holiday party, shopping vintage is a great way to find thoughtful gifts for them. Vintage clothes can be sourced at your local thrift and consignment shops, at estate sales in your area, or online!
7. Depop: Depop is always a classic when it comes to online thrifting. Check out our article, How to Shop on Depop, to get tips and tricks for finding the best pieces. For finding vintage, we love searching for specific brands and styles and making sure our filters are set to show us exactly what we are looking for. There are also a few stores that we regularly shop on Depop, like Wishful Sinful Vintage, Poorly Curated, and Urban Row.
8.Berriez: Another shop we love for finding unique vintage finds is Berriez. This brand specifically sources and stocks vintage finds for curvy bodies that can often be harder to find when thrifting online and in person. They hand select some of the most unique, creative, and quality vintage finds as well as fun handmade and reworked designer collabs.
Reworked Vintage:
Thrifted gifts are fun options on their own, but if you want to get extra special with it, we love gifting reworked thrifted pieces and accessories. Designers and artists are taking the flood of leftover garments and turning them into totally new designs. You can find these creators all over Depop, Instagram, and Etsy, but there are a few independent designers we are particularly loving this gifting season.
9. Shopjournal: This small business, started by Laura Cerri, is all re-worked and handmade using recycled materials and fabrics. We love their unique accessories and their recycled hand-dyed tights.
10. Picnicwear: Picnicwear is a slow fashion brand that makes handmade clothes using reworked vintage and deadstock materials. They are based in NYC and North Carolina. They specialize in garments made of reworked towels.
11. 3womenco: This women-owned brand, based in Long Beach California, specializes in making handcrafted garments using vintage textiles. Much of their clothing is custom made and customer-inspired. This means that you can help to select textiles and create a unique piece for each person on your list.
Outerwear and Gear
Finding quality outdoor gear for the adventurous people in your life can get expensive. Fortunately, there are brands who have created their own recycling programs to make sure that their quality clothing, gear, and accessories are used till the very end of their lives.
12. Patagonia Worn Wear: Worn Wear is a resource from Patagonia for finding secondhand outdoor gear and for caring for your gear too! This is a great one-stop shop for finding hiking and adventure clothing and accessories, as well as quality used packs and gear for the campers, hikers, skiers, and general adventurers in your life.
13. REI Used Gear: Similar to Patagonia’s Worn Wear, REI Used Gear is another resource for finding quality recycled gear, clothing, and accessories from REI and their partner brands. REI Used Gear has a crazy variety of products for every adventurer, including ski gear, surf gear, biking gear, and tons more.
Thrifted Gifts You Can Find Locally:
We love that online thrifting makes shopping secondhand so accessible. However, your local thrift shops are also a great place to start looking for gifts. Shopping in-store also cuts down on carbon emissions emitted in packaging and delivery too. When thrifting for holiday gifts, we recommend looking for finds that can be adapted into a tailored gift for your loved one. Here are a few of the items that we look for at our favorite local thrift shops.
1.Records: Oftentimes you can find some pretty unique records when thrifting. You can’t always know if these records have not been scratched or impacted in some way, but records make great decor pieces once they have lived their musical life!
2. Artwork: Although it might take a bit of hunting, many thrift stores end up with old and antique art. For those in your life who love a good vintage painting or who are always looking to add something quirky to their gallery wall, make sure you check out the art section of your thrift store.
3. Frames: If you are opting for more DIY gifts this year, hit up your thrift shop for frames to showcase your work. Whether you’re making special personalized collages, or just printing out a few of your favorite photos, putting them in a funky vintage frame is a great way to elevate your gift.
4. Books: The book section of a thrift store is one of our favorite places to explore. This section is often stacked with new and old reading material, and you can find something to match every personality. Whether it's a nostalgic comic book from their childhood, a cookbook, or a novel that just looks fascinating, you will definitely find a lot of options.
5. Quirky Mugs: Thrifting kitchenware is always a good idea, but we especially love hunting down fun mugs whenever we hit up the thrift. Get a World's Best Boss mug for your girlbossing bestie, or a kitschy holiday mug for your mom. Whoever you are gifting for, you will definitely find a mug that fits.
6. Pots for Plants: If you are gifting a plant this year, we recommend heading to a thrift store to find the perfect pot to deliver it in. Gifting house plants is a great way to give an intentional and thoughtful gift, but you can make it even more susty with a secondhand pot.