If you’re the sort of shopper who thrives on sifting through piles of pre-loved goodies to find a hidden gem or two, you’ll want to know where all the thrift stores and vintage hotspots are in KL (or its surroundings). No matter if you’ve only got twenty dollars ringgit in your pocket — you can piece together an entire outfit and avoid carving out an alarming chunk of money from your bank account with these secondhand savings.
From oodles of retro trinkets to ageless apparel and accessories, here are our top picks for an old school shopping spree.
Bargain Basement
A charity retailer run by IOI Group, the social enterprise tags affordable prices to its new and resale items, which include everything from clothes and home ware to books, toys, and fashion accessories. All proceeds from sales go to a long list of local non-profits, such as Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation Malaysia, Autism Café Project, and Lovely Nursing Home. Those keen on lending a helping hand can also volunteer at the shop or do a little spring cleaning at home and donate your reusable goods.
Two outlets, including EB2-01 (Basement 2), IOI Mall, Puchong. 03-8947 6605. Daily 10am-10pm.
Buntil
One of the city’s oldest and most established vintage shop, Buntil is a bargain-hunter haven that’s been around since the ‘80s with its racks of leather apparel, accessories, bags, and denim goods. It may take you a while to rummage through the shelves, but your efforts could pay off when you uncover the occasional rare treasure like limited edition pieces or collector’s items.
16 Jalan Opera C U2/C, Taman TTDI Jaya, Shah Alam. 012-538 9505.
Jalan Jalan Japan
Throw on a new (sort of) outfit at a smidgen of its original price at this thrift store, which hosts monthly value-for-money shopping sprees where you can cram a bag full of stuff for just RM5 (or three bags for RM10). Its enormous selection is also rather diverse, so you can take your time browsing through the aisles of kitchen ware, sporting goods, action figurines, and even musical instruments offered alongside the standard array of garments and shoes.
Three outlets, including L3 Centerpoint Seremban, 3 Jalan Dato Siamang Gagap, Betaria Business Centre, Negeri Sembilan. Daily 10am-10pm.
Jumble Station
Established more than a decade ago as a community outreach initiative by non-profit organization Parents Without Partners, Jumble Station takes every ringgit you spend here and gives it to PWP’s programs for socioeconomically disadvantaged single parents. You can shop at its brick-and-mortar space or scroll through its e-store to find everything from books and art prints to handmade bags and purses.
The School Jaya One 72A Jalan Universiti, Petaling Jaya. Daily 10:30am-8pm.
Kedai Bless
With humble beginnings in flea markets, this chain of shops soon expanded to its current collection of five outlets, each used to raise funds for charitable initiatives to aid beneficiaries such as drug rehabilitation center Kenosis Home. New and secondhand knick knacks find their place together here, with a range of furnishings, home décor items, jewelry, and clothes that starts from RM3.
Five outlets, including F33A, L1, Citta Mall, Jalan PJU 1A/46, PJU 1A, Petaling Jaya. +6012-406-8002. Daily 10am-10pm.
Klumby KL
Taking a premium approach to retro rummaging, Klumby hawks pre-loved clothes and accessories from international labels such as Levi’s, Tommy Hilfiger, Burberry, Supreme, Nike, Adidas, Converse, Dr. Martens, and Vans. The street-style store, which claims it’s open to negotiations for prices, also buys and trades items, so if you’re clearing out your (branded) closet, your stuff has a shot at a second life here.
No. 26, Bandar Sri Permaisuri, Jalan Dwitasik, Dataran Dwitasik, 56000 Cheras, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur. 03-9174 1067. Daily noon-midnight.
Luxury Vintage
Just as its name suggests, Luxury Vintage is all about designer brands for the fashion savvy who want bags, shoes, and clothes in timeless styles at a fraction of their original cost. Think Chanel, Hermes, Gucci, Loewe, Prada, Miu Miu, Balenciaga, Givenchy, Celine, and loads more. Naturally, the goods have been examined for authenticity before going on sale, so if your style is “classy chic on a budget”, this is your comfort zone.
Two outlets, including No. 114 Jalan Maarof, Bangsar. +603-20956266. Mon-Sat 10:30am-6:30pm.
Yellow Kombi Vintage
The sunny yellow Kombi is a familiar face at pop-ups, where shoppers can dive into its eclectic trove of retro fashion, antiques, toys, and collectibles. But, starting this year, the recognizable van will be a mainstay at the Pasar Lambak KL night market every Saturday and Sunday evening. So grab your fellow vintage enthusiasts and head over to the weekly event to rummage through all kinds of pre-loved treasures from the store and more.
