"Hunting" for second-hand clothes and accessories.

Consumers choose to buy fashion products at "second-hand" stores.

Affordable prices and a willingness to choose make it possible to find unique and unusual clothing, shoes, bags, and fashion accessories. That's why a segment of consumers, especially young women, choose to buy used (second-hand) products. This market is not only bustling in stores but also on live streams where everything sells out instantly; photos are posted and customers place orders immediately...

"What's old for one is new for another."

In Vinh Long City, several second-hand clothing and accessory shops are located on the main streets of Ward 1, Ward 3, Ward 4, Ward 5, etc. These shops typically both sell and buy/consign used clothing.

Individual items like pants, shirts, dresses, skirts, and matching sets are typically sold at affordable prices, ranging from a few tens of thousands to around 150,000 VND per item. Customers include housewives, students, factory workers, and office workers. Among these, students are a particularly loyal customer group, as they want the opportunity to experience various fashion styles without spending too much money.

Some young people who are fans of "second-hand" goods say that if you have a keen eye and are quick, you can own desirable items, and sometimes even snag designer goods at bargain prices. Therefore, they watch daily livestreams, keep an eye out for when shops upload pictures to browse, and frequently visit the stores in person to "seal the deal."

Often seen wearing "very trendy" outfits, Nguyen TH, a final-year student at a university in Vinh Long City, said: "I love fashion, but as a student, I still need money from my family, so since my first year of university, I've been choosing secondhand clothing stores. With careful selection and styling, you can still find beautiful clothes and fashion accessories."

Also sharing her hobby of "hunting" for unique and rare shoes, bags, and jewelry at "second-hand" stores, Tran Ngoc A. (Ward 3, Vinh Long City) said: "Some shops are very diligent in 'hunting' for unique, rare, and limited-edition second-hand clothes and accessories. I often look for such products. I once bought a pair of branded sneakers that were still very new for just over 500,000 VND, much cheaper than a brand-new product."

While browsing for clothes for her upcoming internship in Phu Quoc at a consignment store, Nguyen Thi KT, a final-year tourism student, shared: “Because of the nature of my studies, I have to travel a lot, so I need to change my clothes frequently to keep my image fresh. I buy secondhand clothes to save money.”

Meanwhile, Tran NT (Tan Loc commune, Tam Binh district) often "hunts" for clothes online, mostly dresses and skirts from clothing stores in Ward 3 and Ward 5 (Vinh Long City). "These shops have new items every day, and for around 95,000 VND you can get a nice dress to wear to parties, outings, etc. I'm a factory worker, so I only wear dresses and skirts a few times, so I buy used items. Occasionally, I gather clothes and sell them back to the shops, which saves money," NT added, noting that there are also a few shops selling these items around Hoa Phu Industrial Park.

Ms. Truong Thi TQ (Ward 2, Vinh Long City) - an office worker, occasionally visits consignment shops to "choose office wear and travel clothes that are still quite new and beautiful." However, according to Ms. Q., it's necessary to carefully select suitable products before buying because there have been times when she "closed deals on livestreams" or visited shops to "buy a bunch" but the clothes faded, the fabric was of poor quality, they didn't fit, or they were difficult to wear...

Consider your purchase

As both a fashion enthusiast and the owner of a second-hand clothing store, Ms. Tran Thi Hong Cam - owner of "Sister 13" store (Ward 3, Vinh Long City) shared: The strength of second-hand clothes is that they are affordable but have unique designs.

The market is divided into different segments, from affordable items costing a few hundred thousand dong per item, to those who "hunt" for secondhand goods aiming for items worth tens of millions of dong per item. "It could be a used American T-shirt from the 1980s, or an item from a famous imported brand that has long since ceased production. Because they are rare and hard to find, they are very valuable collector's items," said Ms. Cam.

Nowadays, the supply of secondhand clothing on the market has become more diverse, with many fashion styles suitable for all ages.

Ms. Phan Thi Hoang Oanh, owner of a second-hand fashion shop on Pham Thai Buong Street (Ward 4, Vinh Long City), shared: “Here, we buy wholesale goods from wholesale markets in Ho Chi Minh City. The goods arrive in full packages, mostly foreign goods, with a small number of domestic items. We have to sort them out, clean and wash them. After hanging them on the racks, every 2-3 days we have to sort them again, steam iron them, replace the absorbent pads, spray them with perfume… Customers nowadays are very picky; if the clothes are piled up and messy, they won't want to buy them.”

While previously secondhand clothing only attracted attention from middle-aged customers, it is now gradually becoming a fashion trend among young people.

The owner of a secondhand clothing store in Ward 3 (Vinh Long City) shared: "Buying used goods is currently a joy for a segment of consumers. This is not only a cost-saving shopping solution, but it also increases reuse and reduces waste. However, it's necessary to consider the quality and quantity, and spend time observing and selecting before buying."

According to our observations, recently in Vinh Long City and Long Ho District, a number of secondhand clothing and accessory shops and consignment stores have sprung up. Consumers need to carefully choose quality products and pay attention to preventing the spread of diseases that may remain on used clothing.

Text and photos: NAM ANH - THIEN CHI

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