Where to buy vintage T

By Adam Cheung

Buying vintage T-shirts is now more popular than ever. According to ThredUp's 10th annual resale report, the global secondhand apparel market is set to grow 127 per cent by 2026. That's three times faster than the global apparel market overall, and it doesn't look like it's going to stop anytime soon. A small win for sustainability!

“A few years ago, there was a stigma to wearing preloved vintage T-shirts.” says Moses Rashid, founder and CEO of The Edit LDN. “This taboo has all but disappeared now. Not only is it more sustainable and environmentally-friendly, you also get the chance to own pieces that virtually nobody else will have. Back in November [last year], pre-worn clothing made up just 0.2 per cent of our sales. It's now 10 per cent.”

If you're thinking of diving into the world of thrifted tees, there are a few things to look out for. “Always check for a single stitch,” says Olivia Maloney and Ryan Fidell of North Workshop. “Single stitch was the industry standard for T-shirts made before the mid ‘90s, so if they have this then they're the real deal. Also, be sure to check the neck tag. It should be made of paper and is commonly printed with ‘Made in USA.’"

Pre-worn clothing also has a reputation of being harder to take care of, but this isn't always the case. “While older pieces do need ou to be a bit more careful when washing, in general, vintage T-shirts are pretty hardwearing and can go on a fairly normal cycle.” says Chrisia Borda of Thrifted. “If you want to be extra cautious, hand washing is always best, and washing the T-shirt inside out so the graphic doesn't get damaged is also recommended. Also dryers are a no-no – the heat can reduce the longevity by deteriorating the material. Go au natural and air dry!”

If you think you’re ready to buy your first vintage T-shirt but you're not brave enough to battle through the nearest thrift store, we've hand selected some of the best places to buy vintage T-shirts online.

1 | Beyond Retro

Beyond Retro is the largest vintage retailer in the UK, Sweden, and most recently, Finland. Wowee! Since 2002, the company has saved more than 7 million items from ending up in landfill. They've also worked with big names such as Converse on projects that produce 100 per cent upcycled products.

They also have a section dedicated to denim jackets and jeans from way back when, and they often hold garage sales and community events, so you can make some new mates while saving the planet.

The piece to buy:

2 | Ellie Mae

As a kid, Ellie Mae was always inspired by music, fashion, and pop culture. So when she graduated from Central Saint Martins some time later, she decided to combine her palms to form her eponymous brand. Starting with a single fringe leather jacket, Mae eventually grew her in-house label into seasonal collections designed out of her Toronto studio.

Then, she decided to curate and sell thrifted pieces, and that's when her following branched out from Canada. With a vast selection of vintage T-shirts available, these are split into various categories depending on what kinda genre you're searching for. College, music, sports – Mae's probably done it.

The piece to buy:

3 | Farfetch

If you're looking for vintage T-shirts that feel a bit special, Farfetch should definitely be on your radar. While the London-based e-commerce platform does sell brand new luxury goods just like any other boutique, popularity surrounding their pre-owned initiative has shot up since its launch in 2010.

Unlike most preloved websites, Farfetch Pre-Owned focuses on hyped pieces such as early 1990s Jean Paul Gaultier, Issey Miyake from the 2000s, and even Hawaiian shirts that were made in the ‘50s. They also have a huge selection of ultra rare Supreme tees that sold out many, many years ago. You’re going to need some pretty deep pockets though.

The piece to buy:

4 | Go Thrift

Go Thrift launched in 2019 with the sole mission of making fashion more affordable and sustainable. According to WRAP UK, extending the life of a piece of clothing by just nine months reduces its carbon, water, and waste footprint by around 20 to 30 per cent, and this is a statistic that the brand lives and breathes by.

From Carhartt to Kenzo, there are plenty of brands and pieces to choose from, so if your vintage T-shirt game is due for an upgrade, Go Thrift is somewhere that you just have to check out. Their seasonal sales are also pretty good too if you want to grab a steal.

The piece to buy:

5 | North Workshop

One of the most annoying things about getting into preloved fashion is going on a site and literally being bombarded with thousands and thousands (and thousands) of pieces that don't even look wearable, never mind nice. With North Workshop, every single item has been carefully selected, focusing on quality over quantity.

Unlike most pre-owned platforms, there's less of an emphasis on heavy branding and bold colours. Instead, North Workshop sells stripped back pieces from the '80s and '90s that can be worn with anything. They even have a page just for blank sweatshirts that are surprisingly very affordable.

The piece to buy:

6 | Rokit

You just can't talk about the best places to buy vintage T-shirts without bringing up Rokit. Considered by many to be the granddaddy of thrifting, it was founded by brothers Jeremey and Anthony Shackleton back in the '80s, starting its life in Camden market.

Originally, Rokit exclusively sold vintage denim sourced in the USA, but eventually they expanded into all different types of clothing like hoodies, polos, and even dungarees. While the company is well over four decades old, they keep up with all of the latest trends. In fact, they have collections on their site dedicated to streetwear, workwear, and even gorpcore for everyone who dresses like a mountaineer (which seems to be everyone, tbh).

By Lucy Ford

By Iana Murray

By Lucy Ford

The piece to buy:

7 | The Edit LDN

Founded by Moses Rashid in 2020, the brand has exploded over the past three years. With physical locations in Harrods in London, Galeries Lafayette in Doha and Harvey Nichols in Riyadh, the sneaker and streetwear marketplace also stocks a wide range of vintage items from old school NBA jerseys to oversized windbreakers from the ‘80s and ’90s.

Last year, The Edit LDN took the wraps off of its pre-loved sub-brand. A platform for people to sell stuff that they don't wear anymore, each item is individually checked and authenticated by the company’s in-house team. Pre-Loved has also been the go-to spot for Very Famous People to sell off parts of their wardrobe, so you can own pieces that have been worn by your favourite artists and actors.

The piece to buy:

8 | Thrifted

Searching for vintage apparel but you don't really know where to even begin? Then make sure you add Thrifted to your bookmarks. From vintage T-shirts to tracksuits and even ski suits, the Brick Lane-based store also sell retro pieces from designer brands like Burberry, Moncler, and Stone Island, just in case you're looking for something that's rarer than rare.

Thrifted passionately believe in sustainable style and condemn the idea of fast fashion. The company's values are based off of a seven point checklist that promotes conscious buying and the concept of a circular economy, which is nice.

The piece to buy:

9 | Too Hot

When Too Hot started off a couple of years ago, they were known for their stunning range of archival Stone Island pieces, reeling in Stoney fans from across the UK and beyond. Since then, the online store has branched out, focusing on labels and clothing dating back to the late '80s and early '90s eras.

Highlights include vintage T-shirts from Evisu, Comme des Garçons shirts that you won't find anywhere else, and Avirex puffer coats that your grandad probably wore. Outside of the thrifting biz, Too Hot has also worked on projects with some big industry names, including Fila for the Magic Line and Paul & Shark’s recent LQQK Studio collab.

The piece to buy:

10 | Two Fold

Even though Two Fold is based all the way out in Sacramento, California, it has managed to gain a decent following of transatlantic stans thanks to its highly-curated aesthetic. Featuring pieces from the past 80 years, you'll find everything from graphic t-shirts from 2000, all the way to 1970s motorcycle jackets that are seriously way too cool.

Two Fold also have a page just for vintage band T-shirts. Loads of these have somehow managed to stand the test of time and could still pass as new, so expect high quality and even higher prices.

The piece to buy: