By Khushboo Khanna
In a world where fast fashion and disposable consumerism dominate the market, there is a growing interest in vintage and pre-owned luxury items. These unique pieces don’t just hold special allure for collectors, but also offer a sustainable approach towards consumption while fuelling nostalgia.
Put aside a weekend to explore these treasure troves, take home a rare or retro find and lastly, give yourself a pat on the back for supporting a sustainable sector.
1) Doro多乐中古洋行
📍 17 Xinle Road, Huangpu
⏰ Tue - Sun, 1 - 9 PM
🛍️ Known for: Vintage Omega and Rolex watches
This quaint little store is almost hidden from plain sight (keep a sharp eye out for its display window and subtle signage). A vintage watch lovers’ dream come true, Doro stocks mid-1900s treasures by way of watches and jewellery.
We were amazed to find original pieces from brands like Rolex, Omega, Longines, Waltham, and Bucherer. The organised store owner even makes it a point to clearly display records of each timepiece, indicating whether all parts are original or if a piece has undergone restoration. It’s almost unbelievable being able to own pieces by the cream of the crop of horology at prices starting from 2000 RMB!
2) Times Remake Vintage
📍 271 Fumin Road, Polo Garden 103, Jing’an
⏰ Daily, 10 AM - 10 PM
🛍️ Known for: Vintage Levi’s, rock band t-shirts, and upcyled items
A true-blue sustainability warrior, Times Remake Vintage uses the original wooden beams and porcelain tiles from the Paul Hotel that once stood in its place. Even the interior décor makes use of discarded items, from antique bathtubs to old airplane seats, proving that one man’s trash is truly another man’s treasure.
The main attraction here, however, is arguably the largest collection of vintage Levi’s 501 and 517 jeans in Shanghai.
Not piqued yet? How about original merch for famous rock bands like Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Red Hot Chilli Pepper or Pearl Jam?
Otherwise, there are t-shirts tied in with the Simpsons or the American elections. Either way, this is a nostalgia trip you don’t want to miss!
3) One Gallery Cave
📍 271 Fumin Road, Jing’an
⏰ Daily 12 noon - 10 PM
🛍️ Known for: Avant-garde fashion
Kill two birds with one stone by visiting One Gallery Cave before or after Times Remake, as both are next to one another.
Another treasure trove of edgy style and upcycled fashion, One Gallery Cave carries vintage clothes from luxury fashion houses such as Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, and Maison Martin Margiela.
You’ll also find pieces by legendary fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto, known for his master tailoring and avant garde silhouettes with Japanese aesthetics.
If experimental fashion is up your alley, you’re likely to love Ziggy Chen; the Shanghai native may not fit into the vintage bracket, but his savoir-faire in blending the extreme opposites in modern and traditional designs, as well as military and ethnic influences from China and the West, deserves unstinting admiration.
TIME OUT TIP: One Gallery Cave carries lots of Chrome Hearts accessories, which the staff are happy to let you try on.
4) Max Match Vintage
📍 54 Xinle Road, Xuhui
⏰ Mon - Thu 12:30 - 7:30 PM;
Fri + Sat 12:30 - 8:30 PM
🛍️ Known for: American pop culture-inspired merch
A one-stop shop for fans of American pop culture, Max Match Vintage curates the coolest merch connected with American icons that have defined ‘coolness’ for generations.
You’ll find leather jackets, skateboards, t-shirts, caps, posters and other collectibles depicting Betty Boop, vintage Disney, McDonald’s, M&M’s and more.
Our favourite finds include jackets emblazoned with The Godfather and M&M’s, as well as a mini M&M’s dispenser, a Mortal Combat arcade game, and an original Le Journal de Mickey magazine cover from 1958!
5) Aloooooha Vintage
📍 First floor, 18 Lujiabang Road, Huangpu
⏰ Daily, 10:30 AM - 9 PM
🛍️ Known for: A full wall displaying vintage Chanel
A veteran player in the vintage market, Aloooooha Vintage is known for its wide variety of vintage and second-hand clothing, handbags and jewellery. As such, gaggles of girlfriends often flock here to get their hands on designer goods.
What’s more, the store is currently running an insane sale until June 10, 2024. If Hermes, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Celine, Ferragamo, Bvlagri or YSL are on your wishlist, it looks like Christmas came early!
6) ZZER Warehouse
📍 Room 01-05, B1 level, 52 Shaohong Road, Minhang (in underpass of Hongqiao Tiandi hub)
⏰ Daily, 10 AM - 10 PM
🛍️ Known for: Pre-loved luxury items like Hermès Birkin bags and Rolex watches
ZZER, one of China’s first luxury second-hand marketplaces, opened its brick-and-mortar store — or rather warehouse — in Shanghai in 2022.
Inside, you’ll find thousands of pre-loved luxury and vintage bags in addition to timepieces, items of apparel and accessories. The prerequisites to entering this ultra-tempting wonderland are...
1) patience (be prepared to look through countless items) and
2) self-control (not to drop every penny of your savings).
Despite being a maze, ZZER Warehouse’s neatly-stacked racks sorted by brands make it easy to locate your favourite labels. Expect markdowns of 30 to 60% on average. Some steals are so good that you might start believing in a higher power.
Looking to rehome luxury items you’ve outgrown? ZZER also purchases items that must pass a rigorous 11-step authentication process before benefiting the next buyer.
