The world is now warming faster than any point in history. As alarming as it seems, to face the actual situation, evolving to a more sustainable lifestyle is crucial. Fast fashion is known for its unsustainable aspect, but thrifting could be key. This idea of a shared economy, where reusing instead of throwing is star, is beneficial for our planet as well as your bank account! Shopping second hand offers you the chance to shop on a budget in a sustainable way. So, let’s dive into different ways to shop or sell second hand in Beijing.
Apps
Lately, Beijing has been evolving to a shared economy. As with shared bikes, it takes a much more important place than it did before. Second-hand’s popularity has been growing lately.
The famous online platform Taobao launched his own secondhand goods app called 闲鱼 Xián yú. This app offers you a lot to choose from. All sorted by categories you can buy but also sell your goods. The app may be inconvenient for non-mandarin speaker but is verry similar to Taobao. Some diamonds may shine, so go check it out!
As you know, WeChat is the most popular social media in China. They offer messages, videos, posts but also something called “mini programs”. These online apps propose a large variety of possibilities. Some of the are dedicated to second hand.
Movin is the first one we recommend. An online app for bargains all around China that offers endless choices. This program proposes once again categories such as furniture’s, Clothing, or electronics as well as the possibility to sell your products. Really accessible for non-Chinese speaker, the app is very easy to take in hand and affordable!
Dejà vu or 多抓鱼(Duō zhuā yú), is another mini program based around books and clothing. A little store near Sanlitun, proposes online and physical selling. Dejà vu presents multiple clean choices, in a secure and reliable environment. Shop throughout over 4000 different brands, fast and high fashion, books in different languages as well as few electronic devices. An excellent and easy way to give your items a second life, but also to find interesting offers!
FInd it :
工人体育场北路4号机电院75号楼
4 Gongti Bei Lu, Building 75
Tel: 15311993356
Group chats
WeChat offers messages as well as group chats. By far the easiest way to find second-hand items is on WeChat group chat. Creating a real community, selling, and buying becomes possible. You can look up for your compound or Beijing related groups. Ask your friends, they might know about some hidden society. It’s all about chance and contact.
Extending the community and creating solidarity between people all around Beijing could be a good project!
For a list of 2nd hand WeChat groups, check out this blog.
Garage sale
If you keep looking for cheaper ways to shop, why not for free? Flea markets are the perfect place to get rid of your unnecessary items and replace them with secondhand ones. This exchange idea is ideal for budgeting and sometimes even, finding gorgeous items. It is a very friendly way to give items a second life. This way of shopping is fantastic, but the only struggle is finding the places.
RumbleintheJumbleBJ, available on WeChat, is defined as a Beijing based pop-up bazaar for creative folks to share, promote and collaborate. With an amazing energy, the team created a fantastic and joyful atmosphere. Proposing tons of events and services in collaborations such as Tatoo Festival, adoption say, but also upcycling boutiques! We highly recommend their bazaar shops if interested to make the upcycling community grow! So, stay informed of the upcoming garage sale by following them on WeChat.
Secondhand Stores
The most obvious places to shop when it comes to second hand is thrift stores. As the vintage style is coming back on trend, it’s a perfect opportunity to find unique pieces.
A bunch of clothing thrift stores exists in Beijing such as Mega Vintage. A shop that proposes vintage secondhand clothing and accessories from the 1920s to the 1980s. Exploring different centuries, these original clothes exist for any taste. Because of their authenticity, the prices may be higher.
Find it :
三里屯路33号33大厦B1层B1007
Building 3.3, 33 Sanlitun Lu B1 B1007
Tel: 64173333
Find it:
鼓楼东大街241号
241 Gulou Dong Dajie
Tel: 84045637
The Tiger Vintage store, located in Sanlitun and 798, is well known by teenagers. Proposing vintage pieces of clothing, this thrift store is the ideal location for exclusive pieces.
FInd it in Sanlitun:
三里屯路33号33大厦B1层B1012
Building 3.3, 33 Sanlitun Lu B1 B1012
Find it in 798:
707街798红石广场27号 707
707 Jie, 798 Hongshi Guangchang No 27
Tel: 18515391332
Roundabout is a famous social enterprise headed by volunteers providing free services for those wishing to help the ones in need. Donated items are passed or sold in their retail shop. This store provides all kinds of items with the ambition to raise funds for orphans, elders, and others less fortunate ones. This store is a good alternative to thrift stores. Shopping for cheaper and developing a more sustainable lifestyle, Roundabout also offers you the possibility to help people in need.
Find it:
North Gate of BIBA, 1 Yumin Road, Houshayu, Shunyi District
顺义区后沙峪裕民大街1号
Tel: 13718053814
Now that you discovered secondhand apps, group chats, stores, and upcycling boutiques located in Beijing, you are ready to dress for less. Your sustainable lifestyle is on the way! And making our planet great again starts today!
Images: Pexels, Unspash, Canva, Dian Ping, Emma.
