There are tonnes of options when it comes to shopping in London and perhaps most people first think about places like Oxford Street, Regent’s Street, Bond Street or Selfridges and Harrods. Although you might be after new trends and new clothes, you should give eco-friendly shops such as second-hand and vintage shops a try. Not only do they have incredible gems, but also they are part of London’s culture.
London is home to many stylish and creative people and has been for many decades. This has its perks when it comes to buying second-hand or vintage clothes. There are many stores dedicated to the latter, as people in London love donating their clothes. The benefits of buying second-hand and vintage are endless! You can save money and help the world reduce its global waste problem.
So if you are looking for sustainable clothes and eco-friendly shops in London, you should definitely check out the shops below! You can also book a sustainable fashion tour with a local. For more eco-friendly tours, check out this list: Eco-friendly Tours in London.
Vintage Shops in London
Vintage shops in London are usually condensed in a few neighbourhoods, including Camden Town, Brick Lane, Dalston, Stoke Newington, Hackney. There are even events dedicated to vintage or second-hand shopping in London and these take place almost every month.
Shop Name: Rokit
Location: Camden, Covent Garden and two shops in Brick Lane
Day: Everyday 11:00 – 18:00
What you’ll find: Literally, anything. From Halloween clothes and funky costumes to old and new trends, you can find anything at Rokit shops. Although most of their clothes are vintage, some pieces are timeless and valuable. They have a vast inventory of brands ranging from Patagonia to Prada.
Shop Name: Beyond Retro
Location: Soho, Brick Lane, and Dalston
Day: Monday to Saturday 11:00 – 19:00, Sundays 11:00 – 18:00
What you’ll find: Best for 60s to 90s styles, you can also find reworked pieces relabeled“Beyond Retro”. You can find great sports brands for much cheaper prices, including shoes as well as bags.
Photo credit: Clem Onojeghuo / Unsplash
Shop Name: Atika
Location: Spitalfields
Day: Monday to Saturday 11:00 – 19:00, Sundays 12:00 – 18:00
What you’ll find: Vintage department store Atika is best for denim jackets, funky colours and remade vintage clothes. They have a very cute shop designed with old furniture and cool art.
Event Name: The East London Vintage Kilo Sale (Facebook Page)
Location: Various Locations
Day: Once a month event
What you’ll find: If you are after a wardrobe change and need to buy a whole bunch of new pieces, this is the place to be. Not only will you find bargains, but also unique pieces you wouldn’t find anywhere. You pay by weight, and a kilo of clothing is only £15. From leather bags to denim jackets, you can find great value pieces in this vintage fair.
Second-hand and Charity Shops in London
Charity shops and second-hand shops in London are also places that can surprise you every once in a while. From books to vintage clothes to some new pieces, you’ll be finding new things to be obsessed with while making a positive impact.
Shop Name: Boutique by Shelter
Location: King’s Cross
Day: Monday to Saturday 10:00 – 18:00, Sundays 12:00 – 18:00
What you’ll find: With the tagline “Not your average charity shop”, Boutique by Shelter really lives up to its slogan and perhaps is even better than some trendy shops. Buzzing with art students, you are sure to find cool pieces at this shop.
Shop Name: Second Chance
Location: Archway
Day: Monday to Saturday 10:30 to 17:00, Closed on Sundays
What you’ll find: Second Chance gives clothes, scarves, books, records and more a second chance. They raise thousands of pounds for charity, and have a very orderly shop in Archway, North London.
Shop Name: Traid
Location: Camden and Brixton
Day: Monday to Saturday 10:30 to 17:00, Closed on Sundays
What you’ll find: Traid has many shops in London but their Camden and Brixton ones are the best. Traid funds projects that improve working conditions and practices in the textile industry all around the world. So by shopping from Traid, you would not only be saving clothes from going to waste, but also helping people around the world.
Flea Markets in London
If you are looking for not only clothes but other items like jewellery, records, furniture, plants and more, you should head over to one of the many flea markets in London. From artistic posters to pots and pans, you can find anything and everything in these flea markets. They are also the best for buying souvenirs to loved ones. You never know what preloved item you can get and start giving it love again!
Location: Stoke Newington
Day: Every Saturday and Sunday
What you’ll find: Gorgeous furniture, artsy small household items, cool kitchenware and art.
Brick Lane Market
Location: Brick Lane Road
Day: Every Saturday
What you’ll find: Brick Lane is arguably the liveliest street in London. On Saturdays and Sundays, you can find street performers, musicians, food and art here. To top it off, the market offers a chance for local shops to sell their goods outdoors. There are many different markets on this road including an underground vintage store, a vegan food market, a closed street food market and an arts and crafts market.
Flea London Vintage & Makers Market
Location: Vinegar Yard, Bermondsey
Day: Saturday from 11am – 6pm and Sunday from 10am – 5pm
What you’ll find: Creative, artistic and vintage goods from clothes to handmade jewellery.
Eco-friendly Clothes Shops in London
Most eco-friendly clothes shops don’t have physical stores, which helps them spend even less energy. But if you like touching fabric and browsing materials in person, I recommend you to visit the shops below to find new ethical and sustainable clothes.
Shop Name: 69B Boutique
Location: Broadway Market
Day: Monday to Friday 10:30 to 18:30, Saturday 10 to 18:00, Sunday 11 to 18:00
What you’ll find: All sustainable women’s clothing brands like Thought, People Tree, Dedicated, Komodo, Lanius, Toms and more.
Shop Name: The Third Estate
Location: Kentish Town/Camden Town
Day: Tuesday to Saturday 10 to 18:00, Closed on Sunday and Monday
What you’ll find: Ethical, Eco-friendly and Animal-free women’s and men’s fashion
Eco-friendly Cosmetics Shops in London
You have probably heard of the most well-known brands in this category, such as Lush, Space NK and Neal’s Yard Remedies. These shops are mostly found easily around London, in locations such as Waterloo station, St Pancras Station, Covent Garden and more locations. So I wanted to shine the spotlight on some of the lesser known brands who sell eco-friendly cosmetic products.
Shop Name: Suneeta Cosmetics
Location: Brixton Village Market
Day: Sunday to Thursday 11 – 19:00, Friday 11 – 20:00, Saturday 9 – 20:00, Sunday 11 – 18:00, Closed on Mondays
What you’ll find: Zero-waste, natural and eco-friendly make-up and beauty products for face, body and hair
Shop Name: Le Labo
Location: Various locations including Covent Garden, Soho and Islington
Day: Monday to Saturday 10:30 – 19:00, Sunday 12:00 – 17:00
What you’ll find: Perfume for men and women that comes in refillable bottles and recyclable packaging that is not tested on animals
Shop Name: As Nature Intended
Location: Old Spitalfields
Day: Monday to Saturday 10:30 – 19:00, Sunday 12:00 – 17:00
What you’ll find: Products from various eco-friendly and ethical make-up and beauty brands
Enjoy shopping ethically at the many great shops mentioned on the list, let us know how your shopping experience goes in the comments!
Do you have any suggestions to add on this list? Let us know at ecocityguides@gmail.com.
