Second-hand items, first class in style

2nd Street, one of the largest secondhand chain stores in Japan and a hot spot for fashionistas on a budget, is changing thrifting in Singapore

- Amanda Chai

At 2nd Street's maiden store in Singapore, the array of products is dizzying.

Racks upon racks of clothes fill the 6,198 sq ft space in basement one of 313@somerset, formerly occupied by Thai fashion retailer Pomelo.

With the men's and women's sections clearly demarcated, the goods are further sorted into blouses, T-shirts, pants, skirts and dresses whose prices start as low as $5. A shelf of mid-range bags holds purses from the likes of Polene, Kate Spade and Coach - including a vintage Coach for $80.

As with any second-hand store, no two pieces (or prices) are alike.

Behind polished glass shelves in the centre is where the real goodies lie. Vintage Gucci and Celine bag prices hover between $100 and $300, while the Louis Vuittons, Fendis and Ferragamos go for more — though still mostly under $1,000.

There are watches and wallets too, some at prices a luxury reseller would baulk at.

This is thrifting like you have never seen before in Singapore.

While the local network of vintage, thrift or second-hand stores has exploded in recent years, most are smaller outfits with curation limited to maximising floor space. They might also focus solely on luxury or vintage apparel.

It is partly why 2nd Street, one of the largest second-hand chain stores in Japan, had the confidence to expand to Singapore.