Thrift Tricks: A Guide to Dubai’s Best Charity Shops
Did you know that at least 61% of UAE residents prefer sustainable shopping? We agree with the majority because not only does it help save the environment, but it helps save money too!
Hitting the charity shops in Dubai is a great way to get good deals on preloved products instead of spending a lot on brand new ones. This is especially true when living in an expensive city like Dubai.
Fortunately, there are many options when it comes to thrift shopping in Dubai and we rounded up the best ones for you! So get ready to get some good deals! Let’s go shopping!
RETOLD
Website: https://shopretold.com/
Address: Warehouse 11 – Red Crescent Compound – 6th Street – Al Quoz – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 50 524 5721
Operating hours:
- 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM from Monday to Thursday
- 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM from Friday to Sunday
Price:
- AED 50 to AED 100
RETOLD is one of the top charity shops in Dubai selling accessible designer and luxury label fashion items.
Ten years ago, Sian Rowlands founded RETOLD to pioneer Dubai’s sustainable fashion movement by educating shoppers on the impacts of the fashion industry to our environment.
With the tagline “giving clothes a second chance at happiness,” RETOLD encourages people to sell old clothes, so others can enjoy them instead of being kept in a closet.
But you’re not just shopping at any thrift store here because RETOLD’s 3,000-square feet store in Al Quoz can compete with the likes of Bloomingdale’s and Harvey Nichols.
Feast your eyes on a wide selection of beautiful clothes, shoes, bags, accessories and vintage items in excellent condition and more importantly, good prices.
What’s not to love about bagging the best deals on luxury items that you’ve been eyeing on for a long time?
And the best part is, you won’t feel guilty about spending after. In fact, you’ll feel good about buying the things that you love and helping the environment while you’re at it.
Pro tip:
Don’t have time to shop at the physical store? Shop at RETOLD’s recently launched online store with a dedicated collection of over 10,000 items for you to choose from.
Garderobe
Website: https://garderobe.ae/
Address: Villa 1224 – Al Wasl Road – Umm Suqeim 2 – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 394 2753
Operating hours:
- 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Price:
- AED 200 to AED 500
Garderobe, one of Dubai’s premier charity shops, was founded by fashion enthusiast Micha Maatouk who used to be a fashion buyer.
After traveling extensively around the world and working for brands like Jimmy Choo, Zara and Emilio Pucci, Micha realized that there was a gap for preloved affordable luxury retail in the country.
Garderobe’s store in Jumeirah looks nothing like your typical thrift store, being one of the most stylish shops in the neighborhood. And once you step inside, you’ll surely feel like you’re in candyland with all the stunning pieces on offer.
Fancy a Chanel classic double flap? How about a pair of Alexander McQueens? Dreaming of that Hermes Birkin handbag? Garderobe has it all for you and all at excellent prices!
But we’re not stopping there because if you’re all about the latest “quiet luxury” trend, you’ll also find brands like Loro Piana and Brunello Cucinelli too!
Pro tip:
Are you on the hunt for a specific designer or vintage item? Join Garderobe’s mailing list, so you get first dibs on the latest collections and exclusive discounts.
Thrift for Good
Website: https://thriftforgood.org/
Address: Golden Mile Galleria – Section 8 – The Palm Jumeirah – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 569 3086
Operating hours:
- 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Price:
- AED 10 to AED 100
Thrift for Good resells donated items and makes sustainable fashion more accessible to everyone. What we like about them is that this charity shop actually raises funds for children’s projects
Here, shoppers can choose from a diverse collection of high street and designer pieces for as low as AED 10. The store also doubles as a drop off point for donations that will help the store sustain its collection.
The company partnered with Gulf for Good, a Dubai-based non-profit organization that raises funds for children’s projects.
Thrift for Good donates all of its profits to the organization to help fund projects that make children’s lives better around the world in terms of health, education and alleviating poverty.
The company has already supported projects for The Sparkle Foundation in Malawi, LARCHFIELD Kids in Tanzania and the emergency relief for the children of Lebanon.
So, whether you want to declutter or you want to give a home to preloved items, Thrift for Good is one of the best places in Dubai to check out, especially for its good cause.
Pro tip:
Do you want to do more than just shop at Thrift for Good to support its cause? You can become a volunteer and donate your time as well!
La Brocante
Website: https://labrocantedxb.business.site/
Address: 2 Street 18A – Al Quoz Industrial Area – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 50 186 5149
Operating hours:
- 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Price:
- AED 100 to AED 500
Located in Al Quoz, La Brocante boasts of a carefully curated selection of high quality furniture pieces that have been restored in the company’s own workshop. The store is the brainchild of Natasha Fownes and her fondness for flea markets growing up.
In fact, the name La Brocante that means “flea market” was coined by Natasha’s mom to remember their weekends hunting for gems at London’s Portobello Market.
Stepping inside the store, you’ll instantly feel a sense of community, which is exactly what Natasha wants her customers to feel. She wants people to visit La Brocante and feel that they can find something to uplift their homes.
Are you going for a vintage style for your home? The store has chairs, sofas and stools to give you that look and feel.
Would you rather go on a more contemporary route? They also have the most stylish dressers, credenzas and wall art for you.
Every piece in La Brocante was carefully restored and selected to make sure that you can bring something special into your home.
Pro tip:
If you can’t find anything that you like in the store or you’re looking for a specific piece of furniture or art, show your peg to the team at La Brocante and they can source it for you.
The Luxury Closet
Website: https://theluxurycloset.com/uae-en/
Address: Novotel – API Trio Towers – Al Barsha 1 – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 247 2985
Operating hours:
- 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Price:
- AED 500 to AED 2,000
The Luxury Closet is everything that its name stands for – a platform to buy and sell new and preloved luxury items – making it one of the best charity shops in Dubai.
Established in 2011, the store has since been the go-to shopping destination for people on the hunt for luxury items from brands like Hermes, Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Cartier.
The Luxury Closet sources its items from around the world, so you can definitely find the most unique pieces here.
The store has more than 40,000 items in its collection. But did you know that The Luxury Closet started with the sale of its first Hermes Brikin?
The rest, as they say, is history and now, the store carries one of the most extensive selection of new and preloved designer items in Dubai.
Pro tip:
Do you want to let go of some luxury items in your collection? You can sell them through The Luxury Closet on a consignment basis. You bring in your item and you get paid when it’s sold.