Everyone knows the damage that fast fashion causes to the planet, but buying second-hand clothing doesn’t have to mean choosing sustainability over style either. You could go bargain hunting in the city’s many charity shops, but these amazing vintage clothes shops in Bristol have dedicated themselves to sourcing the coolest second-hand outfits and turning other people’s cast-asides into the in-style. So forget about the high street brands or an online shopping spree at Shein, start your own fashion trends here!
1. The Vintage Thrift Store
One of many vintage shops in Bristol serving the student population on Park Street – we’ll get to a few more later on – The Vintage Thrift Store is packed with unique handpicked vintage and reworked items. The stock is constantly replenished and a go-to for a fashionable bargain. It’s possibly the easiest place to pick up a trendy new outfit, completely second-hand. The looks are very 90s/00s – older shoppers might fret they’re back in their rave days – and very on-trend.
The Vintage Thrift Store, 35-37 Park St, Bristol BS1 5NH
2. Repsycho
Repsycho started life at London’s Portobello Road Market in the 80s. But Since 1994, it has been posted on Gloucester Road. So we feel it’s more than earned its place on this list of second-hand clothing stores. It’s served the people of Bristol well too over the years, regularly turning yesterday’s fashion into tomorrow’s trend. If you head downstairs, you’ll also find their record store called Prime Cuts with a huge stock of vinyl. Is there anything more Bristol than that?
Repsycho, 85 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8AS
3. Blank Vintage
It’s only open two days a week, but Blank Vintage is worth waiting for. Probably the cheapest vintage clothing in Bristol, the warehouse shop is full of thousands of items under £10. You’ll find many pieces under £5, however, while also holding £1 vintage jumble sales every few months. With a focus on 80s, 90s and Y2K fashion, you’re bound to find something you love.
Blank Vintage, Unit 19, Windmill Farm Business Centre, Bartley St, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 4DB
4. Uncle Sam’s
If you want to stand out from the crowd, why not go for the Western-inspired look? Uncle Sam’s is somewhere for all those with a love of Americana. Pick up a pair of Levi jeans, a varsity jacket, maybe even some cowboy boots and a Hawaiian shirt or two. Yee-hah!
Uncle Sam’s, 54A Park St, BS1 5JN
5. Urban Fox
Don’t expect bargain bins or racks-on-racks of clothing at Urban Fox. Everything is high-quality, carefully picked and neatly presented. So expect some really special pieces to be found here. You can ensure that you’ll be picking up an item to last you a lifetime. There is a particular focus on items from the 80s and 90s, but you can discover all sorts.
Urban Fox, 58 Corn Street, BS1 2AZ
6. Don Majors
After vintage designer streetwear? Don Majors is the place to go, as it handpicks 80,90 and 00’s items from around the world. You’ll probably end up spending more than your average Bristol vintage shops. But that’s because Done Majors is stocked to the ceiling with statement pieces you won’t find elsewhere in the city.
Don Majors, 233a Cheltenham Rd, Bishopston, Bristol BS6 5QP
7. Revival Market
South of the river, Revival Market is more than just a vintage clothing store. Or though for many it is its main pull. You can also find plenty of antiques, furniture, and collectables here too. So next time you’re on the hunt for a new jacket, you might end up heading home with a set of chairs for the kitchen, a child-sized cat statue or maybe a new painting to hang in your bedroom. Never know what you might walk away with at Revival Market.
Revival Market, 45 East Street, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 4HB
8. Rhubarb Jumble
Few of Bristol’s vintage clothes stores go as far back in time as Rhubarb Jumble. The second-hand items here really are vintage, running from 1940s to the 70s, with a particular affinity for mid-century aesthetic. It means you might find anything from a 60s shift dress to an 80s raincoat. On top of clothing, you’ll also find everything from hair accessories to jewellery, plus plenty of mid-century furniture and homeware too.
Rhubarb Jumble, 56 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8BH
9. Flamingos Vintage
With shops in Cardiff, Bristol, Swansea, Exeter and Reading, Flamingos Vintage is one of the largest vintage clothing brands in the UK. Thanks to its contacts, it’s able to ship unique and individual vintage products straight from the United States to Bristol and your wardrobe – with weekly stock drops in-store and online!
Flamingos Vintage, 33 Wine St, Bristol BS1 2BQ
10. Sobeys
With two locations in Bristol, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Sobeys. It specialises in vintage and reworked clothing but also tries to reflect the wider trends in fashion in its selections. Many pieces are one-of-a-kind, while they also stock some accessories and homewares too.
Sobeys, 24 Park St, Bristol BS1 5JA
6 The Arcade, Broadmead, Bristol BS1 3DR
11. Beyond Retro
You’ll find this brand of vintage stores all over London, Sweden, and even one in Brighton. But it’s the Bristol location we’re concerned about. Packed into the heart of Bristol’s city centre, you can peruse over 10,000 vintage clothes at Beyond Retro – with something for every style, from retro gems to current trends, and every budget.
Beyond Retro, 20 Broadmead, Bristol BS1 3HA
12. Something Elsie
Who knew you could squeeze so much into one tiny container? Having first started trading at the Tobacco Factory Market in 2013, Something Elsie has settled snugly at Wapping Wharf. Offering a carefully curated and colourful collection of high-quality 80s and 90s vintage clothing, you’ll find anything from skirts to shirts, denim jackets to sequin dresses. That’s not all because Something Elsie also offers dazzling jewellery, quirky cards, and a whole range of gifts.
Something Elsie, Unit 20, CARGO 2, Museum St, Bristol BS1 6ZA
With all these incredible vintage clothes shops in Bristol, you’ll never have an excuse to buy brand-new fashion again – although we won’t judge you if you treat yourself once in a while!