Philadelphia is home to many specialized vintage shops and thrift stores. Vintage shopping is known as an ethical and sustainable way to purchase clothes and to discover striking items without purchasing from a mass-producing fashion chain.

Want to find your next throwback piece?

From a vast array of vintage menswear to locally-sourced apothecary, there’s a sustainable shop for every desire. Here are eight vintage stores (or boutiques with sweet vintage sections) that help you brag about finding designer products at the fraction of a price.

8 Can’t Miss Vintage Shops In Philly

Cactus Collective is designed to make customers feel as though they’re perusing someone’s carefully curated closet. The shop contains a wide variety of vintage clothing, records, and art pieces from local Philadelphia artists. They specialize in high-quality pieces ranging from the 1950s to the 1990s. Shelves are also staked with jewelry, ceramic items, and faded graphic tees. Along with their unique items, owners of the Cactus Collective aim to support local creative residents, while offering a blast from the past.

Briar Vintage specializes in high-quality menswear with pieces ranging from the Victorian era to the 1960s. From ’60s sports jackets to cufflinks, customers can dress themselves as Sherlock Holmes, or an extra from Mad Men. The shop is brimming with novelty pieces such as fedoras, leather Oxfords, and custom-made pocket squares. With every item cleaned, pressed and repaired, clothing is displayed in high-quality condition.

Retrospect contains a vast selection of eclectic items, specializing in high-quality, affordable vintage clothing in color-coded rows. Furs, leathers, and sequined dresses hang among other unique items on the racks. Shelves are brimming with polaroids, lamps, and typewriters. Retrospect also sells furniture in good condition; even the artwork on the walls is for sale.

Moon+Arrow is brimming with carefully-curated clothing, home accents, jewelry, apothecary items along with vintage sections. From deer-skin fringe jackets to tees, their racks are filled with high-end vintage apparel. Customers describe the atmosphere as warm and inviting, and the air is filled with sweet scents from their incense and candles.

5. Vagabond

Vintage items that beat Urban Outfitter prices

37 North 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Located in Old City, Vagabond is brimming with clothing from independent designers, one-of-a-kind home goods and vintage racks. From discovering items with certified fair trade organic cotton to desert-inspired intricately carved earrings, styles range from minimalist to Southwestern. Discover a pair of pants made out of Alpaca wool, or a woven basket made from sweetgrass.

From a 100-year-old grape crusher machine to intricately painted vases and homewares, Tucker’s Digs is brimming with vintage womenswear, antiques, jewelry, and old accents for interior decor. Shelves are filled with novelties such as typewriters, old weighing scales, and terracotta pots.

7. Raxx Vintage

Get sucked in by the outside; buy something inside

534 South St, Philadelphia PA 19147

Raxx Vintage is full of eclectic clothing finds that range from the ‘50s to the ‘90s. Raxx’s carefully curated collections include band t-shirts, wrangler denim jackets, old novelties, and vibrant jewelry. Every fashion style is organized by rack, and they specialize in high-quality graphic tee-shirts.

8. Elektra Vintage

Carefully curated vintage goods

933 Spring Garden St, Philadelphia PA 19123

Located in Spring Garden, Elektra Vintage contains a variety of styles and eras from ’70s Wrangler denim jackets to floral dresses. The $5 rack is even filled with high-quality items like Ralph Lauren and Champion sweatshirts. The shop focuses on repurposing clothing; catch the owner transforming old denim pants into reusable bags.

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