Think about the last time you bought an item of clothing. How many times did you wear it? Did it become a staple in your closet or end up in the landfill after a few months? In the last 20 years, clothing sales have rapidly increased despite a 36% decrease in average clothing usage time. In a world of microtrends and increased consumerism, thrifting instead of buying new can be a great way to save money and the planet. Buying clothes second hand can reduce waste and conserve resources; here are some great clothing resale stores in the Evanston area.
Crossroads Trading
Crossroads Trading, located in downtown Evanston on Sherman Avenue, is a popular store among teens and young adults. Crossroadings is a consignment store, so instead of accepting donations, they buy used clothing from people. The result is a more carefully curated collection of secondhand clothing. Sophomore Lilah Satut says that this is why Crossroads is her favorite place to thrift.
“The clothes are high quality and in style,” she explained. According to Satut, Crossroads has a steady rotation of clothes and is always on trend.
Classy Closet
Walking into Classy Closet feels like walking into the attic of your very glamorous great aunt who has kept every outfit she’s ever worn, with all the accessories to match. The cozy Washington Street shop has an eclectic vibe to it, but still feels mature. Like Crossroads, Classy Closet is a consignment store, and it’s a great place to find high end clothing for a fraction of the price. They have super unique finds and the entire basement of the store is at least 50% off!
YWCA Shop for Good
Along with all the great environmental benefits to shopping at a thrift store, the YWCA has a thrift store on Dempster Street that doubles as a charity. When you buy something from Shop for Good, 100% of the profits support YWCA programs such as domestic violence recovery, racial justice, and economic advancement. Shopping at Shop for Good helps the planet and our community so you can update your wardrobe and feel good about it!
Thrift House
Another charitable thrift store that’s worth stopping by is The Junior League of Evanston Thrift House on Chicago Avenue. All proceeds from the Thrift House go to the Junior League of Evanston,and anything they don’t sell gets donated to Connections for the Homeless. The Thrift House has a wide range of clothing, but they specialize in unique and designer clothes. There is truly something for everyone at the Thrift House.
Heyday Vintage
If you’re someone who thrifts for the purpose of finding really unique one of a kind items, Heyday Vintage is the place for you. Heyday boasts a small but mighty collection of vintage clothing. Heyday is relatively new to Evanston, having only been open at its location on Davis Street since March of 2024, but it’s quickly becoming a staple in the community.
ETHS Thrift Shop
Did you know that ETHS has its very own thrift store? That’s right, for a few days this month the Hub will host a thrift pop-up for all ETHS students to enjoy. The clothing is all donated, and every item is priced at 1 dollar. However, if you’re short on change, the thrift shop also accepts KitCoin (1 per item)! The first event will take place October 29th to November 4th. Erin Claeys, who runs the thrift shop, explained the structure.
“We do two to three big [pop-ups] a year,” they said. Claeys has been collecting donations in preparation, so everything from scarves to shoes to pants will be sold at the shop. Whether you’re a seasoned thrifter or new and curious, be sure to come check out ETHS’s thrift store!
