PUBLISHED March 19th, 2019 07:00 am | UPDATED May 12th, 2023 05:16 am
Want to look like you came straight out from a Wong Kar-wai film? Take a trip back in time to some of Hong Kong‘s best secondhand thrift stores. It’s not all vintage fashion either – whether it’s antique pieces, old movie posters, or sunglasses from your parents’ era that you’re looking for, find them and more at these eight spots.
金社 Kanamono Hardware Store
Stocked with vintage goods from Japan, Europe, and America, Kanamoto Hardware Store redefines the idea of thrift by offering a highly-curated selection of items in almost perfect condition. Every item sold here has a story and history, which justifies the higher-than-average price tag. There are old steel toolboxes, glass vases, vintage bulbs, metal plates, and key holders that won’t look out of place in a Kinfolk magazine. This is a tiny space, but it’s a gold mine.
金社 Kanamono Hardware Store is located at G/F, 30B, Wun Sha St, Tai Hang, Hong Kong, p. +852 2865 6168. Open Tue-Sun 1pm – 7pm. Closed Mon.
Shop Little Two
Don’t let Shop Little Two’s run-down state scare you. Tucked along the popular Nam Cheong Street on Sham Shui Po, this charming shop retains the same interior as during its yarn store days, welcoming antique lovers and collectors with all sorts of nifty oddities. Some gems you might find: old recipe books from the 90s, typewriters, vinyl records of old Hong Kong singers, and even old taxi headlights now repurposed into LED displays by the owner’s own hands.
Shop Little Two is located at 100 Nam Cheong St, Mong Kok, Hong Kong. Open daily 1.30pm – 7.30pm.
Mee & Gee
Mee & Gee is practically the holy grail of Hong Kong’s thrift stores, and nearly every local has scored an outfit or two from one of their many outlets. Prices start from as cheap as HKD$10 in the bargain pile, and their incredible three-for-$100 deals are a steal. Of course, much of the fun lies in digging through the racks for the treasures, where you’ll find things like vintage Gucci sweatshirts and Levi’s jeans — perfect if you want to be the next Hong Kong hypebeast.
Mee & Gee is located at several locations including Mong Kok, Central, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Wan Chai. See here for more details.
InBetween Shop
InBetween is carefully tucked in between Kui In Fong and Tai Ping Shan Street, hence its name. Even though the space is small, it’s also full of valuable goodies both old and new, from antique furniture pieces and vintage brooches to odd pins and products designed by local artists. And yes, the car in the photo above is available for sale too. This shop was in danger of closing last year but their lease has been extended for a short time, so visit them while you still can.
InBetween Shop is located at 6B Tai Ping Shan St, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, +852 9751 3644. Open daily 12pm – 7pm.
Bang Bang 70s
Watches, leather goods, accessories, spectacles, home decor, and humble service. These are just some of the things you’ll find at Bang Bang 70s, and the last one is free! This funky thrift shop on Aberdeen Street lets you relive the nostalgic disco days of our parents, complete with groovy clothing and memorabilia that belong in a funky museum somewhere. It’s not all boogie wonderland though — there are also serious rock-n-roll and hard rock vibes in play.
Bang Bang 70s is located at 1/F, 16A Aberdeen St, Central, Hong Kong, +852 6461 7448. Open daily 2pm – 7pm.
Little DOT Vintage
Little DOT Vintage is hard to miss, what with their pink neon sign flashing at the window. This vibrant red space in Tsim Sha Tsui is a haven for girls into quirky retro clothing, selling colourful hats, dresses, shoes, and accessories from the 50s to the 80s. Old dolls and toys that your grandparents probably played with, too! Be sure to check out the shop’s social media pages, where the stylish owner creates different looks with her shop offerings for all to see.
Little DOT Vintage is located at 47 Granville Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, +852 5225 2642. Open Tue-Sat 1pm – 9pm, Sun 1pm – 7pm. Closed Mon.
Select-18
There are many who stroll into Select-18 by accident, only to end up inside for hours. This large den in Sheung Wan is one of Hong Kong’s best thrift hangouts, where you’ll find assorted knick knacks and cool paraphernalia with plenty of history. This includes costume jewellery, handbags, clocks, transistor radios, license plates, and even movie posters from Hong Kong’s colonial era. There are plenty of random stuff lying around, but you might just find some thrifty designer items if you’re lucky.
Select-18 is located at Shop A, G/F, Grandview Garden, 18 Bridges St, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2549 2589. Open Mon-Wed 12pm – 9pm, Thu-Sat 12pm – 11pm, Sun 12pm – 8pm.
Midwest Vintage
See something you like at Midwest Vintage? Better grab it quick before it disappears out of your life forever. After all, a good part of the selection here are one-piece only, from used U.S military coats to old collections from Ralph Lauren, Dickies, and Levi’s. Having provided only quality and original vintage clothing for the past 18 years (the first of its kind in Hong Kong), they’ve been known to bring in particularly unique pieces to satisfy even the most fashion-forward people out there.
Midwest Vintage is located at Shop 58, G/F, Victoria Centre, 15 Watson Rd, North Point, Hong Kong, p. +852 2802 6886. Open daily 12pm – 9pm.
Top Image: Shop Little Two