Local Thrifts to Sustainably Build Your Fit
A selection of jewelry items on sale at the Purple Manatee Resale Shop on Nov. 13. (PC: Ian Murphy)
In the era of large corporations and fast fashion, it’s essential to support small businesses. Here are 10 thrift stores and local businesses in Elmhurst and the surrounding suburbs to browse instead of fast fashion sites.
Goodwill
675 W North Ave, Elmhurst, IL 60126
Goodwill can be a hit or miss, but you never know what you’ll find. They have a wide variety of clothes, accessories, home decor, and more. I’ve visited this location many times, and I often find brand-new items that still have their tags.
Plato’s Closet
158 Roosevelt Rd, Villa Park, IL 60181
Plato’s Closet is a great place to buy trendy second-hand clothes. If you like clothes from brands like Shein, Cider, and Romwe, but you don’t want to support them for ethical reasons, Plato’s Closet is the place for you. You can buy all your favorite fast fashion brands guilt-free. They also have plenty of unique hidden gems; you just have to look.
Purple Manatee Resale Shop
241 W St Charles Rd, Lombard, IL 60148
Purple Manatee is your one-stop shop for not only clothes, but toys! They sell a lot of collectible toys, like Pokémon cards and Funko Pops. They also have a beautiful collection of jewelry and home decor. The owner occasionally brings their French bulldog to the shop!
Clothes Mentor
154 Roosevelt Rd, Villa Park, IL 60181
Clothes Mentor is a large resale store that sells both luxury and common brands. Their pieces are in good condition and are sold for reasonable prices. The clothes are modern and cool, but they’re not so trendy that they’ll go out of style within a month.
Higher value items behind a glass case at the Purple Manatee Resale Shop on Nov. 13. (PC: Ian Murphy)
E Duex
104 W 2nd St, Elmhurst, IL 60126
E Duex is an upscale consignment shop that sells luxury brands at affordable prices. You can donate your gently used clothes, and when a piece sells, you receive 50% of the profit. Its sister store, Red E, sells expensive designer pieces. The pieces that don’t sell go to E Duex and are put on sale.
La Jolie MLN Boutique
263 N York St, Elmhurst, IL 60126
If you are attending a wedding or formal party, La Jolie is the place to meet your formalwear needs. The front of the store has jackets, skirts, semi-formal dresses, and jumpsuits. The back room is dedicated to beautiful formal gowns. They also have 3 large bins of casual and semi-formal clothes on clearance for only $10-$20.
The Uptown Shop
123 N York St, Elmhurst, IL 60126
The Uptown Shop is a local small business shop that sells unique home decor, jewelry, and other trinkets. It is the perfect place to buy gifts for friends and family for any occasion.
Treasure House Resale Shop
497 Pennsylvania Ave, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Treasure House Resale Shop is a non-profit store selling second-hand clothes, furniture, and more! They have a wide range of both modern and vintage pieces. The shop is well-organized and easy to get around in. Even if you’re not buying anything, Treasure House Resale Shop is so fun to explore.
Gingham Tree Resale Shop
900 39th St, Downers Grove, IL 60515
Gingham Tree Resale Shop sells clothes, jewelry, and home decor. They offer the prices of a thrift shop, but the service of a boutique. The shop is well organized, and the staff members are all so sweet.
JL Vintage Odds and Ends
8 S Park Ave, Lombard, IL 60148
JL Vintage Odds and Ends is the perfect store for vintage junkies. The store has a cool musical vibe and sells items from the 1930s all the way to the 1990s. They have vintage records, comic books, toys, clothes, kitchenware, guitars, and more.
