HERE’S OUR GUIDE TO THE BEST STOCKED SECOND-HAND SHOPPING IN THE UAE
DUBAI FLEA MARKET
Dubai Flea Market now has five locations around Dubai, including Zabeel Park and JLT. There’s no way to play it down – whether you’re buying or selling, the markets are crazy busy, but you really can pick up some amazing finds. Good presentation of a stall doesn’t always mean quality, so don’t be put off by the stalls that are just messy piles of clothes rather than the carefully merchandised areas. The trick is to rummage. Operations manager Mohammad Al Hamwi told me the market is so popular they are planning to expand into more locations after summer, including in Abu Dhabi. Dubai Flea Market takes place every week at various locations. dubaifleamarket.com
MY EX WARDROBE
My Ex Wardrobe was set up by British expat Sian Rowlands when she couldn’t find any pre-loved clothing in the UAE. Sian invites people to bring unwanted clothing to her warehouse in Al Quoz where she organises and stores it all. She holds an event every few months where shoppers are invited to come and buy the pieces she and her team have collected over the previous months. ‘I am very specific about what I accept,’ says Sian. ‘All the items have to be in good condition and the pieces have to be affordable’ – so you won’t find any super high-end brands here. ‘I’ve been doing this a long time now and I have a good idea of what will sell and what won’t, so I know what to accept. Although sometimes items do surprise me!’ Sian adds. Most of the My Ex Wardrobe events coincide with a ladies’ night, so it’s a great opportunity to get together, socialise and shop. Myexwardrobe.com
SO CHIC
So Chic was founded by European duo Alex Bouvy from Belgium and Emma Di Rito from France. They spend months collecting unwanted second-hand, and in many cases, unworn, clothing from women here in the UAE (and also from France) before holding a twice-a-year sale with thousands of items. They also have a shop where you can go and get a limited amount of their collected pieces all year round. The style of So Chic is very specific and the founders are very fussy about the type of items they select. Everything must have a European, and in particular, Parisian, feel to it and be in very good condition. Alex and Emma will visit the homes of the ladies that are donating
to help select suitable pieces. Everything in their warehouse really is so chic with many designer brands and one-off pieces. Because of that you can expect to pay slightly more than other outlets, but there are some incredible bargains. Sochic.ae
SECOND HAND DUBAI
If you thought we were alone in our secondhand quest, think again: The Second Hand Dubai Facebook group has over 260,000 members in the UAE. This social media platform was started by Dubai residents and is for locals to sell their unwanted goods. This can be anything from clothes to household goods. There’s a lot to sift through but if you go onto the page at the right time you can find some amazing bargains. You do have to go and pick up your items, so check where the person you’re buying from is located.
SHEDD
Shedd was created by the founders of Dubizzle as a platform for people to sell unwanted clothing. It’s pretty simple – you scroll through the hundreds of items on the fashion app and arrange to meet the sellers in person to collect your goods and hand over the cash. Some items can be delivered, making things a lot easier. You’ll find some great bargains and there are a lot of sellers also selling new items (many of which are imported from other countries). The only issue with Shedd is having the time to meet users to buy your items. It can be a little difficult to arrange but if you can, there are some great bargains.
THE LUXURY CLOSET
This company sells pre-loved designer clothing on its UAE-based website at a fraction of the original price. When it launched in 2011, it mainly focused on bags and leather goods but it has since expanded and stocks an extensive range of products. The site is updated daily with new items and prices are often reduced further. You can find some amazing bargains on the site. We found a Stella McCartney skirt for Dh150 and a Prada top for Dh281. You can pay online and items are delivered to your door within two to three days (in the UAE). Theluxurycloset.com
DUBAI CHARITY CENTRE
One of Dubai’s oldest charity stores, this shop in Karama doesn’t just sell clothes but books, household items and everything in between. You can pick up clothing from anywhere between Dh5 and Dh25 but you’ll never pay much more than that. It does take some searching to find stylish pieces, but they’re in there. Trust us! We found high-street branded pieces for Dh10 and less.