Thrift shop from the comfort of your couch.
While vintage and thrift shopping tends to be more of a ‘in-real-life’ activity (as anyone who’s ever bought a pair of vintage Levi’s will know), the Coronavirus pandemic has forced retailers to get creative and adapt with how they sell their products, and second-hand stores are no exception.
Lucky for us, then, Pakington Street’s best-kept secret Hunter Gatherer has gone digital to showcase inventory that’s usually reserved for their physical store.
Tucked away in Geelong’s centre of cosmopolitan lifestyle and multiculturalism (and one of the most iconic second-hand vintage shopping hubs along the Bellarine), this volunteer-run recycled vintage and contemporary fashion store had made finding that perfect vintage gem simple for the last year, until of course the coronavirus pandemic took hold and wreaked havoc on the world – the retail industry included.
Run by the Brotherhood of St Laurence – a community organisation that works across Australia to prevent and alleviate poverty – Hunter Gatherer stocks a carefully curated collection of all things interesting, from traditional vintage items to retro inspired pieces and contemporary on-trend men’s and women’s fashion and accessories, all of which you’ll find online via their virtual store.
Thanks to generous donations every week, you’ll find an eclectic, well-priced range that will have you looking great at the fraction of the price your outfit would cost new – especially with medium to high end fashion brands and vintage pieces from the likes of Moschino to Karl Lagerfeld, vintage Adidas and Stella McCartney. Currently we spy a pair of Dr Martens boots, and a Hugo Boss rain jacket up for grabs.
And while reviving the retro styles of eras past never gets old and straying away from the mass-produced items in clothing chains is always a plus, shopping online at a boutique-like Hunter Gatherer also helps the environment by reusing pre-loved fashion and contributing to great causes, with all profits funnelled back into the organisation to help fund a range of life-changing community programs.
Happy (virtual) thrifting.
Op shop online 24/7 at www.ebay.com.au/str/brotherhoodofstlaurence
Check out their Insta @huntergatherer_geelong
