Buying secondhand not only shows a commitment to sustainability and ethical fashion, but it can be cool, too, picking out high-quality, natural-looking clothes with a backstory. Here are our favourite places in Budapest to browse for old togs, with a sliding scale on price. 1/5 is silly cheap, 5/5 means break out a few extra forints. Note that some shops sell clothes by the kilo – just pile the items into your basket and have the cashier weigh them at the end.
1/17
Antifactory Vintage Shop
With the huge neon sign and the unusual music inside,
you sense a little steampunk coming into the equation. The clothes are not cheap
cheap, but in return, you can find absolutely unique pieces, with
Instagram-friendly outfits portrayed on their online platforms. Price range: 4/5. Facebook. Instagram
2/17
Cream, Háda & chains
These clothing giants can be found all of over town. You
can buy modern items by well-known brands at really good prices. Most of the pieces
are nothing amazing, but perfect if you are looking for trendy, more
sustainable items. Do pay close attention to quality, as products from fast-fashion
chains can wear quickly with age. Cream. Háda
3/17
Csóra Cipő
Present on the market for over 20 years with its
selection of high-quality used shoes and bags, Csóra Cipő stocks almost completely
new or recently passé fashion on Margit körút, where you can also find Grisport
hiking boots and items by Nike, Geox, Högl, adidas and Tamaris. From time to
time, there are also discounts and promotions. Price range: 3/5. Facebook
4/17
Ever After
Downstairs in this shop on Kazinczy utca, you can find
high-quality, neat items such as sweaters, coats and accessories. The atmosphere
of the store is welcoming they are always happy to help you find the outfit
that suits you best. Price range: 2/5. Facebook. Instagram
5/17
Giháda
Outfits in punk, rock and Goa styles are displayed here in a psychedelic setting. Csaba Igar (Gigi), the owner, with his blue punkish
hairdo, is quite striking proof that this place has its own character, even in
the growing range of secondhand and vintage clothes. And the price is not relevant
because the real goal here is to make sure every piece goes to a satisfied owner
who will love it. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/gihadalift. Price range: 3/5. Instagram
6/17
Jajcica
One of the best options for real Western-style boots
or DMs, as the selection at Jajcica is excellent, and the point of these pieces
would be that they are in and out of fashion. Anyway, Jajcica is a completely
unclassifiable store that also serves alternative subculture, goths and punks,
where anyone can find something to their liking. Price range: 3/5. Facebook. Instagram
7/17
JUDAS
This shop at the beginning of Dohány utca also stands out from the rest by the fact
that many men and women who prefer loose, sportier dresses, streetwear and
hip-hop gear can find a unisex items. Here you can choose secondhand clothes
and accessories from brands such as Vans, adidas, Nike, Carhartt and Herschel.
Price range: 4/5. Facebook. Instagram
8/17
Konfekció
In the shop of art historian, curator and feminist artist
influencer Kata Oltai, you can boldly unleash your imagination and rethink what
makes you feel good. In the words of Konfekció: “vintage, animal patterns, outsized,
thin, Gypsy rose, motorcycle, original, fake Asian, statement and aimless
clothes + accessories behind Rákóczi tér market”. Top notch.
Price range: 2/5. Facebook. Instagram
9/17
LoveBug Vintage
This is the kind of place where you can find a denim
jacket stitched with embroidered blessings for the home, combined with a
Barbie-Freddie T-shirt channelling Queen’s I Want to Break Free video. If someone
snatches it from under your nose, you can still peruse the unique, pre-owned
pieces around the zigzag business space fashioned from a ground-floor flat.
There’s even an online facility where you can track the previous owner’s adventurous
foreign purchases, hinting at the free lifestyle which best suits the clothes.
Price range: 3/5. Facebook. Instagram
10/17
Ludovika VNTG Shop
Bridging genres,
this shabby-chic outlet stocks original artefacts from the 1920s and 1930s
objects, clothes and accessories, too. Here at Ludovika, you can choose among
the beautiful and romantic pieces, lace, Aunt Hetty-style blouses, mid 20th-century
tapestries or slightly older. Customers are greeted by the shop’s own spotty dog. Price range: 4/5. Facebook. Instagram
11/17
Öltöző
Maybe because it’s a cellar store, next to one of the
best cocktail bars in Budapest, the ‘Dressing Room’ has the atmosphere that a group
from the ’70s and ’80s has gathered all their party clothes and then left them in a heap here.
And then someone found the collection started to sell them. You can find sunglasses,
giant accessories, latex, leather and colours in all quantities. Price range: 3/5. Facebook
12/17
The Recycled Fashion Store
Although this outlet is not in the capital, you'll find it in nearby Szentendre. A pioneering store run by stylist Lilla Lendvai,
it’s based on sustainability, fashion and style. Out-of-the-box clothes and
accessories are waiting to be added to their new owner’s wardrobe. It’s possible
to walk out with a few gems, but it’s very important to know that Lilla’s professional
eye has run over the quality of every piece. And last but not least, it’s affordable.
There are plenty of Hungarian designer pieces, vintage and retro stuff. The
boutique is open on Fridays and Saturdays, as well as on the last Sunday of
every month. You can also browse online on the webshop and on Instagram. Price range: 3/5. Facebook. Instagram
13/17
Retrock
This spacious store at Anker köz in the city centre
is an indispensable big fish in the realm of used clothes. As you can choose vintage
togs alongside the clothes and different upcycled pieces created by young home
designers in the store and online, the items here are placed in a different
context. The store also draws attention to the fact that secondhand shopping is
great from the point of view of ethical fashion and sustainability, and if you just
want to get hold of good-quality, unique wear made from ordinary materials at a
decent price. Price range: 4/5. Facebook. Instagram
14/17
Swappis
Tünde, the owner, learned about this model of a secondhand
clothing store in Sweden, which is based on recycling and ethical fashion. The
essence of this clothes exchange is to bring in high-quality secondhand women’s
and men’s outfits and accessories, which then are ranked according to quality. This
process makes you a member, and you can buy from the stock for reduced prices within
a certain limit. See our feature here
15/17
Szputnyik Shop/D20
Szputnyik is basically much more than a secondhand
clothing store, it's one of the oldest and largest forums, offering all kinds of ideas
for those who like to express themselves through their attire while keeping in
mind ethical and slow-fashion perspectives. The bright interior contains
everything from used and new shoes, jewellery, men’s and women’s clothing, to a
variety of accessories. They also aim to show how new and old pieces can be
combined, you can also choose from top domestic and foreign brands fresh out of
the box.
Price range: 3/5. Facebook. Instagram
16/17
Typo Showroom
This wide selection of clothes, shoes, bags and other accessories
are mainly for lovers of sporty streetwear and hip hop. In addition to secondhand
items, you will also find many modern, brand-new artefacts. The shop offers as
many clothes for women as men. Price range: 3/5. Facebook. Instagram
17/17
Vintage Shop Práter
As we were about to enter, we overheard a young girl telling
her friend how she had chosen her wedding dress here. Once inside, we found two
more girls discussing this same story, with a very weird cap and an even stranger
bag in their hands, while an old lady was just trying to bargain for a fur coat.
So this store is a real treasure trove, where you can find stuff for any
occasion, guaranteed to be unusual. And perhaps a story to go with it. Price range: 2/5. Facebook
