Thrifting Is Thriving

Here’s why more locals than ever are choosing resale over retail, plus where to shop

By Liz Regalia

Beth Cook is known around town as the queen of consignment. She opened Charleston’s second-ever consignment shop, Consigning Women, back in 1989. For the last 20 years, she has owned and operated Reinvented, an upscale resale store off Savannah Highway that looks and feels more like a quirky clothing boutique than a consignment shop. There, she relies on consignors who return season after season to stock her store by exchanging their high-end women’s apparel for cash or store credit.

“We get eight consignors every day bringing in 20 pieces each,” Cook says. “This lets us be picky with the quality we accept and still change our displays every week. The impressive volume of items Cook receives is a testament to not only the relationships she’s built over the years, but also a major change in how locals love to shop: responsibly. While secondhand clothing has always been viewed as better for your budget, today it’s seen as better for the planet, too, as fast fashion brands fill up landfills.

As more people continue to opt to shop for sustainable goods rather than retail, the number of local businesses in the Holy City specializing in consignment and vintage resale like Cook, continues to grow. Whether you’re looking for women’s apparel, men’s clothing, or furniture, here’s a closer look at a few of our favorites and what you can expect to find.

Grammy’s Attic

Rene Clark has always loved shopping for antiques, but never with a single item in mind. “That’s the best way to do it,” Clark says. “Browsing almost always sparks excitement and brings back memories and stories from the past. Nothing compares to finding that perfect piece.”

After years of working in retail, Clark ventured into the world of resale upon the suggestion of a friend. It didn’t take long for her to get hooked. She opened her own vintage market booth and learned how to restore furniture. “After 11 years, I opened Grammy’s Attic,” Clark says. “It’s both my loves under one roof: refinished furniture plus antiques and vintage goods.”

At Grammy’s Attic, which is located off Clements Ferry Road, shoppers will find antiques, vintage furniture, and both new and used home decor. The store also sells custom refurbished furniture and accepts consignments upon approval.

Thanks to her mix of goods, Clark likes to think no two customers are the same. “Some people come in for inspiration; others to see how we mix old with new in the shop,” Clark says. “Some come looking for something that’s not everywhere else in town; others come in with a mission. We love them all.”

For more information, visit grammys-attic-design.myshopify.com

Worn Consignment + Wear for Men

Brannen Daugherty opened the first Worn Consignment + Wear for Men in the fall of 2010 after spotting a niche that needed to be filled: Charleston had plenty of resale stores for women, but none designed for men. Fifteen years later, his consignment service specializing in high-quality men’s clothing is one of the most trusted in town when it comes to getting name brands for less.

“Our customer appreciates the idea of quality over quantity, but let’s face it: quality clothing is expensive,” Daugherty says. “Consignment shopping is a great way to counteract the fast fashion industry while buying quality items and supporting local businesses.”

In 2012, Worn expanded from South Windermere Shopping Center into a second, larger shop located in Mount Pleasant. Today, Daugherty’s customer demographics in both shops are as varied as the clothing brands he carries, which include Ralph Lauren, Vineyard Vines, Louis Vuitton, Patagonia, Lululemon, and more.

 “We see guys from all ages and walks of life—from a dude on the way home from the beach who needs a quick outfit for dinner to the male fashionista who wants a great designer bag or shoes but doesn’t feel like walking up and down King Street to find it,” Daugherty says.

For more information, visit wornincharleston.com. 

Reinvented Upscale Resale

In the back of Reinvented is a small room overflowing with racks of hundreds of blouses, dresses, jackets, and everything in between. “I like to not only look, but touch everything that comes in before we put it out on the floor,” Cook says, thumbing through the hangers. “That’s how I know how to price everything.”

It’s that attention to detail that has kept Cook’s stellar reputation with women over 60, many of whom know a great deal when they see one, whether it’s a $2,000 St. John suit priced at $250 or a $98 Anthropologie shirt priced at $30. Many are lawyers, realtors, and socialites, she says, who love wearing a new outfit every week.

But Cook is quick to clarify that everyone, no matter their profession, is welcome in the store she calls home. “We dress all walks of life here,” she says. “We have Governor McMaster’s wife come in when she’s in town, then people who arrive on a bicycle. That’s because our motto is that ‘We only look expensive.’ We sell quality, timeless items, but they’re all affordable.”

For more information, follow Reinvented Upscale Resale on Facebook and watch out for live weekly updates from the store every Wednesday featuring the latest sales.