Image credit: Cottonbro

Over the last couple of years, thrift shopping has become a fad in Egypt. With hundreds of people setting up thrifting accounts on Facebook and Instagram, the art of buying and selling used clothes is becoming more and more popular by the day. Nowadays, people have got into the trend of selling used items for low prices, much to the satisfaction of those looking to look good for an affordable price.

That being said, the art of thrifting is not entirely new to Egypt. For decades, Egypt has had a thrift shopping market called Wekalet El Balah that is regularly visited by many in the know. With many high-income Egyptians getting rid of old clothes to keep up with ever-changing fashion trends, Egyptians from all backgrounds have been going to places like Wekalet El Balah to acquire fashionable, previously owned clothing gems at lower prices. For the longest time, this was one of the only forms of thrift shopping in the country.  

You can find hundreds of thrift shops online, especially on Instagram, that deliver your thrifted finds directly to your house, including vendors like Thrift Dope, Thrift n Chic, Mray, and Finest Finds. You can also find a couple of thrift shops with physical locations so you can browse freely, including The Space in Maadi and Yellow Ray in Zamalek.

Not only has the idea of buying fashionable, affordable high-end brands become a selling point for thrift stores, but the fact that thrifting is better for the environment is also attracting more people. With environmental sustainability also being a hot topic, thrift shopping has become another way to promote the notion, being one of the simplest ways to go green and reduce waste.

One of the main benefits to come out of the newfound popularity of thrift shopping is that buying cheap, used clothes is no longer a taboo among Egypt’s wealthier groups. Thrift shopping has become trendy, and therefore has opened new opportunities for the majority of society to support sustainability and promote local businesses. Moreover, more people are now giving their clothes to thrift shops instead of disposing of them in less environmentally-friendly ways.

So, visit the nearest thrift shop or look for chic pieces online so you can contribute to the growing trend that is more sustainable and gives you the chance to get fashionable items at amazing prices.