In a city known for its upscale fashion retailers, it's easy to forget that the local thrift shops and flea markets are where many of Montrealers get their outfits. And, as it turns out, the city's curated vintage and secondhand stores offer just as much style as the upscale mall brands.
Whether you're looking for an ugly Christmas sweater, a black and white art tee or a pair of flared Levi's that you can wear with your oversized sneakers, it's easy to find the perfect vintage pieces in Montreal. From the Plateau to Little Italy, there's a store for every taste and budget.
One of our favourites, Cul-De-Sac, is carefully stocked with both secondhand and vintage clothes for men and women. The store carries everything from cozy grandpa sweaters to 80's puffer coats and military jackets to comfy pre-worn jeans. And, despite their careful curation, the shop isn't pretentious in the slightest – you'll just as likely find a rock-and-roll tee here as an artsy midi dress.
Other shops in the neighborhood, like ERA Vintage Wear and Studio Citizen, have a more slow-fashion approach to shopping. The former showcases present-day runway fashions next to reimagined vintage duds (think: silk chemises revamped with dye or cool two-tone denim), while the latter offers clothing made locally from fabric scraps and deadstock, ensuring that nothing goes to waste.
There are also a few vintage boutiques in the city, such as KILOfripe and Marche Floh, that focus on selling second-hand clothing while supporting local artists by giving them a platform to display their work. And, for the eco-conscious, there's the EcoDepot in Montreal West, a consignment store that gives contemporary and vintage pieces a new life. For more details please visit Montreal thrift stores
If you're interested in a more hands-on approach to thrifting, try checking out Le Shwap Club, which allows members to add to its curated racks by exchanging their own vintage threads for store credit. It's a great way to refresh your closet without scouring garage sales or scrolling through Facebook Marketplace.
In addition to these curated thrift stores, there are also several community-based ones that sell donated clothing to support a good cause. Le Magasin du Chainon in the Plateau sells clothing, furniture and home accessories that are donated by the community and helps support women facing hardship. The money raised by the store is used to provide shelter and support programs for women in Montreal. Likewise, the ERA Vintage Wear in Saint-Henri is a popular place for McGill students to find second-hand wardrobe staples while helping underprivileged youth develop self-reliance.