This week is National Op Shop Week, celebrating all those treasure troves of pre-loved vintage gear and the many community groups and services they assist.
Whether you’re clearing out your own wardrobe or adding to it, the benefits of Op Shops are many. Apparently 300,000 tonnes of clothing and other goods were donated to charity in 2012, which means each year there’s 300,000 tonnes of stuff raising money for charity and doling out vintage swag instead of adding to landfill.
There’s an absolute abundance of gloriously bargain-filled time-sinks to explore around the SA, from your time honoured staples like St. Vincent de Paul Society, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Goodwill and Save The Children to local church groups like Aggie‘s on Unley Road and St. Luke‘s in Modbury. Meanwhile the propagation of Savers thrift superstores in the last few years has certainly stepped Adelaide’s Op Shop game up a notch.
Then there are all the vintage exchanges popping up like Swop Clothing Exchange [pictured] which, while somewhat pricier and less charity-driven, still promote solid values about the benefits of reusing and reclaiming clothes and goods.
It’s a great way to spend your time, but admittedly not without its challenges. Here are 9 important lessons we’ve picked up from our adventures scouring the Op Shops of Adelaide.
1. Sometimes the more quaint and old timey the religious organisation, the better the finds
When we eventually find an Op Shop run by Druids we’re sure it will be amazing.
2. There is no greater barometer of public opinion than the “recently donated books” section at Mount Barker Salvos
That New Yorker magazine cover was powerful, but as powerful as all the bookshelves of the Adelaide Hills spontaneously emptying? Tough call.
3. All your clothing needs are covered, from high fashion to footy fan wear
Port fans Will Never Give Up But They Might Chuck That Teal Shirt In The Norwood Vinnies Donation Bin.
4. The spirit of the 90s lives on in $1 CD bins around the State
If you ever wondered where all the stock from SAN!TY stores went when they all disappeared overnight in 2005, this might be your answer.
5. You might even score a rare collector’s item
That is, unless the rest of society took a leaf out of Scotty’s book and moved on from Popstars.
6. Why waste time and money travelling the world when souvenirs are already waiting for you at Savers Kilburn?
Tea towels from Texas? T-shirts from a summer camp in Oregon? Beer mats from Freo? It’s all waiting for you.
7. There’s always something new to learn
There’s a fourth Home Alone movie?! When did that happen??
8. Too many naff jumpers are barely enough
Don’t listen to Jack Black in High Fidelity, those Insert-Non-Controversial-Reference Sweaters are ballin’.
9. Blackwood Goodwill is worth visiting for the visually striking but difficult to navigate ‘sort-by-colour’ catalogue system
But let’s face it, Dewey never had this much fun with that decimal system of his. A+++
National Op Shop Week runs from Sunday August 23 – Saturday August
Read More:
Lessons we’ve learnt from TRADE*LAIDE
What
National Op Shop Week
When
Sunday August 23 – Saturday August 30
Where
Find an Op Shop near you
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