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| Young people in Hue are interested in consumer trends at thrift shops. |
A unique mark
Nguyen Van Quoc, owner of a thrift shop on Vo Thi Sau Street (Thuan Hoa Ward), was arranging T-shirts on a rack while recounting that he started in the business in 2018. In the early days, many people were quite unfamiliar with the concept of a thrift shop (a store selling used or recycled goods), but in recent years, the number of customers has increased significantly, especially young people and foreigners.
"Foreign tourists really like items with unique touches, especially hand-painted or hand-embroidered products. Some people spend an hour browsing just to find a truly distinctive shirt," Quoc shared.
His shop offers a wide variety of products, from clothing to rings, necklaces, eyeglasses, and pretty little hair clips. Interestingly, the customers' tastes are very diverse. Some seek minimalist, elegant styles, while others are captivated by unique and unconventional designs. Currently, the price of each item is usually only a few tens to a few hundred thousand dong, significantly lower than new items.
Along with fashion accessories, the thrift shop also offers many vintage or limited-edition product lines that are popular with young people. According to Mr. Quoc, many items are sought after by customers because they are associated with cultural elements and the wearer's unique personality.
For example, FUBU t-shirts are in the hip-hop style of the 90s and 2000s. These products are often highly valued when they are original, retaining their shape, logo, and material. "These are not just fashion items, but also a mark of a period of street culture, hip-hop music , and a free-spirited, vibrant lifestyle," Mr. Quoc said.
At Trung Hieu's shop on Nguyen Cong Tru Street (Thuan Hoa Ward), along with the well-organized display of products by theme, the paintings, strongly reflecting street art, have created a distinctive style for the merchandise.
Hieu said he learned about this model from his love of fashion and information about the wastefulness of clothing around the world. “The more I learned, the more I realized how much clothing is thrown away each year. Meanwhile, many products are still perfectly usable. If we can extend their lifespan, it would be both economical and contribute to reducing pressure on the environment,” he said. From that thought, his thrift business is not just about fashion, but also about spreading a responsible consumer lifestyle.
Linked to sustainable consumption
Many first-time customers entering a thrift shop still have reservations, especially regarding cleanliness or product quality. To reassure customers, all products are carefully selected before being put on the shelves by Mr. Hieu. "All these items must go through a cleaning, disinfection, and quality control process. Only products that meet the requirements are placed on the shelves for sale," Mr. Hieu said.
In recent years, along with the global trend of sustainable consumption, the culture of using second-hand and recycled items has gradually gained attention. Not only foreigners but also young people in Vietnam are embracing this trend.
During her trip to Hue, Emma Brown, a tourist from Australia, decided to visit a local thrift shop. She said: “I really enjoy the feeling of finding unique items that not everyone has. Buying secondhand clothes or accessories is also a way to reduce waste and contribute to protecting the environment.”
According to shop owners, customers like Emma are becoming increasingly common. They are not only interested in reusability but also seek out unique, one-of-a-kind products.
Nowadays, in addition to selling goods in their shops, many thrift shop owners actively participate in events for exchanging and buying used items. These activities have contributed to spreading the spirit of green living to the community. “Using a shirt for a few more years helps reduce raw materials and waste. It may seem like a small action, but if many people do it together, the impact will be enormous,” Hieu shared.
Amidst the myriad consumer choices of modern life, thrift shops are quietly contributing to the spread of a new habit. There, the value of an item lies not only in whether it's new or used, but also in its ability to be reused instead of becoming waste. This is also how many young people are choosing to live greener every day.
Source: https://huengaynay.vn/doi-song/song-xanh-cung-thrift-shop-166936.html
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