Local “thrift institution” Other People’s Clothes opened a new store in South Williamsburg this month, welcoming “thrifting enthusiasts and creative souls alike” to shop to their hearts’ content.
The secondhand store launched in Ridgewood, Queens in 2020, and has since expanded to Bushwick and, as of June 1, Marcy Avenue in Williamsburg. Other People’s Clothes specializes in exactly what it sounds like — other New Yorkers’ clothes available secondhand, for much cheaper than they would be in a typical store.
Located at 150 Marcy Ave., the new store is the brand’s largest so far, and welcomes fashion enthusiasts to buy, sell, and trade their clothes. The stock in store changes regularly, as older items are purchased and new ones come in by the bagful — so shoppers might find vintage designer duds or items from last year’s trend cycles on the racks.
“We’re beyond excited to open our doors in South Williamsburg,” said creative director Jordan Figueroa, in a statement. “Our goal is to create more than just a store; we want to cultivate a creative world where people can come together to celebrate up-cycled fashio through the lense of music, design, DIY culture and the joy of thrifting.”
The 9,000-square-foot store is decorated with murals by local artists like Hisham Akira Bharoocha and Nick Kuszyk.
According to Other People’s Clothes’ website, the brand is dedicated to sustainability and circular fashion. Circular fashion aims to extend the lifespan of clothing through many means, including through secondhand shopping and clothes-swapping.
The fashion industry is a major contributor to pollution and climate change. Trends are shifting faster than ever, driving consumers to purchase clothes to keep up with trends , then discard them when they’re no longer fashionable. According to the Ellen Macarthur Foundation, people are buying 60% more clothing and wearing them for half as long, and truckloads of “abandoned” textiles are burned every day.
Meanwhile, tossed-away garments pile up in landfills and pollute soil and water with microplastics. Secondhand stores like Other People’s Clothes help keep clothing out of the trash and allow consumers to find new treasures at lower prices.
According to the business’ website, people with clothes to sell can bring up to two large bags to Other People’s Clothes at a time. Workers will sort through the items and accept or deny them based on quality, seasonality, and the inventory needs of the store, so winter clothes may not be accepted in the height of summer. Once the accepted items are priced, the seller can get 30% of that price in cash or 50% in store credit.
Other People’s Clothes also sells secondhand items online and on Instagram. The South Williamsburg location at 150 Marcy Ave. is open seven days a week, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
