By Kylie Knott
Hongkonger Dianne Gupta has a laser-sharp sixth sense as she wanders around Mee & Gee, one of her favourite second-hand clothes shops, in Kowloon’s Mong Kok district.
Dressed in one of her favourite preloved outfits, the 28-year-old scans the racks with lightning speed.
“Some people walk into second-hand shops and feel overwhelmed, but for me it is like a treasure hunt,” she says.
It does not take long before something catches her eye: a retro-style dress covered in bright yellow stars.
She gives the fabric a feel to test its quality – something she does with every potential purchase – and checks the seams to make sure there is room to move.
“It’s also a good idea to check the zips and buttons.”
The dress passes the test, and at HK$40 (US$5.10), it is a bargain.
Shopping for preloved clothes is more than just a great way to save money or find unique items and heavily reduced luxury brands. It also represents a more conscious approach to consumption.
Buying second-hand garments helps combat the negative effects of fast fashion, such as overproduction and textile waste, by keeping clothes out of landfills.
There is a huge need for it. In 2023, about 402 tonnes of textiles – equivalent to 17,480 suitcases – were sent to Hong Kong landfills each day, according to Redress, a Hong Kong-based environmental NGO.
“All the clothes you’ve ever bought are still on this planet,” Gupta says, “so it’s important to think twice when buying something new.”
Gupta, who shares sustainable styling tips on her Instagram account @dianneisdressed, loves the thrill of the hunt and finding clothes with a story behind them.
What she dislikes is discarding clothes, a mentality that is common among today’s consumers.
“If it’s no longer on trend, or there’s a slight tear or loose button, then people just throw it away.”
Not Gupta. The fashion school graduate – she studied at Raffles International College in Hong Kong and has styled for magazines – not only mends clothes, but she can knit and sew. One of her favourite haunts was the fabric bazaar in Sham Shui Po, which is now defunct.
“I’ve been taught that you can fix it, or you can make it – so there’s a special connection to my clothes.”
While the second-hand-clothes movement seems here to stay, there is still some stigma attached to buying preloved garments. Some are cultural factors associating second-hand clothes with bad luck or negative energy.
“I’ve had a lot of comments like ‘Are the clothes from dead people?’ or ‘Aren’t you worried that somebody who owned that has died?’” Gupta says.
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Redress, a driving force behind circular fashion – where materials are kept in use for as long as possible, either through reuse, recycling or repurposing – hosts regular campaigns that make consumers look closer at how their wardrobes affect the environment.
The fashion industry is a significant contributor to pollution, ranking as the second most polluting industry globally.
It contributes between 8 per cent and 10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, exceeding the combined emissions of aviation and shipping, according to the environmental think tank Earth.Org.
Water waste is another issue, with the fashion industry being the second-largest consumer of water worldwide. About 700 gallons of water are needed to produce one cotton shirt. That is enough water for one person to drink at least eight cups per day for three-and-a-half years, says the World Economic Forum.
“Fashion is one of the most polluting and energy-intensive industries, significantly harming our planet and driving climate change at an alarming rate,” says Redress founder Christina Dean.
“Addressing the fashion industry’s carbon footprint has never been more crucial. We aim to inspire collective action, demonstrating that even small, conscious shifts in behaviour can yield powerful impacts on our planet.”
Another way is through clothes-swap events, of which Gupta is a big fan. She loves the social aspect of swap clubs, and Hong Kong has seen a rise in them, some with a fun twist, such as June’s “Swing and Swap” where guests mixed shopping with dancing.
“My go-to clothes swap community in Hong Kong is the Top Swop Club,” Gupta says. Old But Gold is another favourite.
While repairing, reselling and recycling garments are great ways to extend their life, renting is also an option, says Gupta, who rents out clothes on Fenxiang, a Hong Kong-based clothing rental and resale platform that allows users to borrow and share clothes from others.
“Fenxiang is great for renting designer pieces and is perfect for weddings and special events when you need a nice outfit but don’t want to spend a lot of money on a new one.”
Gupta’s favourite second-hand clothes shops in Hong Kong
1. Mee & Gee
Opened in the 1980s, this thrifting favourite with multiple locations sells funky Japanese-sourced, old-school American and European-imported preloved pieces.
“In Mong Kok, there are Mee & Gee shops that are close together, making it easy to jump around,” Gupta says. “It has the most amount of items, so some digging is required.”
Multiple locations, including 55 Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok
2. Castaways
Gupta started going here with her mother, who is also a lover of thrift shopping, when she was around 12 years old. She says this place has a lot of happy memories. “It is also great for finding designer brands.”
The funds raised are donated to local charities.
Next to St John’s Cathedral, 4-8 Garden Road, Central
3. The Redress Closet
The clothing and accessories sold here have been carefully selected from those collected through the NGO’s clothing collection programme. The proceeds go towards its operating costs and educational projects.
Gupta says it is a great spot for novice thrifters. “It’s very organised, so it’s not overwhelming.”
78 Apliu Street, Sham Shui Po. Tel: 4636 4602
4. The Salvation Army Family Store
With locations citywide, The Salvation Army Family Store sells not just clothes but home decorations, stationery, books and furniture.
“You will find a lot of designer bags, household items and toys … and the items are very organised.”
Multiple locations, including 199 Wan Chai Road, Tiffan Tower, Wan Chai. Tel: 2836 6246
5. Community Recycling Coop
Between the districts of Sham Shui Po and Cheung Sha Wan, this co-op collects a wide range of reusable items including clothes, shoes, bags, books, toys and household goods.
“You can find items as cheap as HK$10.”
Two locations, including 100 Castle Peak Road, Sham Shui Po. Tel: 2729 0373