Secondhand clothing in the ‘O’ range at Salvos – funkier, original and big brand labels for shoppers on the hunt for their own unique style.
Story and photos by Linda Moon
Katoomba Street’s famous profile of eateries, quirky shops, cold-climate street plantings and cockatoos is ever changing. And the latest transformation favours the circular economy.
Key Points:
- Secondhand shops are booming in Katoomba and helping drive the circular economy.
- Katoomba has 20 different options for secondhand, thrift, vintage and antique shopping.
- Young people, environmental awareness and tougher economic times are helping fuel the trend.
- See our guide to all 20 Katoomba Op Shops, Antique & Secondhand Stores here >
In October, observant locals will have noticed that two popular op shops (Anglicare and the Salvos) have relocated into prime positions within the tourist town’s main street.
Cayte Moxom, area manager for the Salvation Army (Central West), says the relocation of Salvos (previously in Waratah Street) is about being bigger and more accessible to the public. The move also involves a transition of the store from family/church run to an arm of the Salvation Army.
Doors officially opened on Wednesday 25th October.
A few doors down, the Anglicare Op Shop is also benefitting from a new location. The busy 195 Katoomba Street store recently relocated to expand into a bigger space. It’s a sure sign the secondhand economy is thriving.
The new Anglicare Op Shop. Bigger and better with more floor, rack and shelf space and room to move.
Thriving Centre for Retro
Katoomba now offers 20 different options for secondhand shopping. Featuring something for different budgets and tastes, these include charity-based op shops, vintage options, antique centres and the free reuse shed at the Katoomba Resource Recovery and Waste Management Facility.
See our guide to all 20 Katoomba Op Shops, Vintage & Antique Stores >
“Although we’re competitors,” Moxom says, “the more charities you have, the more choice.”
The growing trade in vintage and secondhand is further establishing the town as a thriving centre for retro and originality.
Boom time for Op Shops. The new Salvos Op Shop in Katoomba Street, one of 20 secondhand shops in Katoomba.
Boom time for op shops
Moxom says the secondhand sector is growing in Katoomba and elsewhere. She attributes it to harder economic times and affordability factors plus greater interest in sustainability and avoiding fast fashion.
People are more interested in considering the environment and planet in their purchases, and doing good in their local community. We’re in a national park, we have the Planetary Health Initiative and a community committed to caring about the environment. – Cayte Moxom
The global market for secondhand apparel is predicted to almost double by 2027 (to $350 billion) according to a report by Thredup. In fact, it’s predicted to grow three times faster than that for new fashion. Which is great for the environment!
Synthetic textiles have become a big environmental problem, Moxom says. Petroleum-based fabrics, like acrylics, elastine, polyester and lycra, don’t break down. Thus, recyling and re-using fashion can help.
Katoomba local, 19-year-old Amy James, modelling clothing she purchased from Katoomba op shops.
Secondhand hits the mainstream
While once we may have felt shame in shopping at op shops, secondhand shopping is mainstream now, Moxom says. “The idea that people who shop in op shops can’t afford it is no longer true. Also, young people want a point of difference and don’t want to wear what everyone else is wearing.”
A study published by The Conversation found second-hand shopping associated more with style-consciousness than either frugality or environmental awareness.
Local outdoor guide, Amy James, in upcycled summer top she hand made from op shop ware.
Youth embracing secondhand
19-year-old Katoomba local, Amy James, is one of many young people who see worth in buying ‘pre-loved’ goods. About half her wardrobe is secondhand.
It’s cheaper; it’s better for the environment, it’s fun, a bit of a treasure hunt. You never know what you’ll find. It’s also inspiring thinking what you can make from it. – Amy James
Mirror, lanterns and chalk bag made by Amy James from trash and treasure purchased in op shops.
The joy of upcycling
Amy, who works as an outdoor guide, upcycles finds from secondhand and op shops into unique clothing and household decor items. She recently refashioned an old mirror using mosaic materials she made from smashed teapot saucers and cups, bits of stained glass and tiles found in secondhand shops. She also handcrafts table runners, pillowcases, mosaics, lanterns and belts (the latter are made from old ties).
Making her own chalk bag (used in the climbing industry) has saved her heaps. The chalk bags typically retail from between $20 to $70, she says. The creative climber made her own using recycled fabric and a friendship bracelet.
Amy plans to start a market stall and promote her unique, handcrafted items on Instagram at theclumsypenguinau.
Lovely hanging lantern made by Amy James using recycled jars from op shops.
Cancer Wellness Op Shop a recycling hero
Amy’s personal favourite for fossicking is the Cancer Wellness Op Shop in North Katoomba. “It has heaps of stuff,” she says.
A popular locals haunt, the op shop also won a coveted expert accreditation for “clothing reuse” from Charitable Recycling Australia (in 2023). The charity recycles a remarkable 95 per cent of all the goods it receives. It also donates unsaleable goods overseas.
Like other charitable thrift shops, most funds go towards local charities and thus feed back into the community.
Cancer Wellness Op Shop, Katoomba – a Blue Mountains favourite for secondhand shopping.
Take Action:
- Go op-shopping in Katoomba instead of buying new. See our full guide to all the stores here >
- Recycle old clothes that can’t be donated through BMCC’s Clothing and Textile Recycling Program
- Get together with friends to hold a clothes swap party to freshen up your wardrobe!
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This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
More from around the region
It was gloriously sunny and we had a fabulous day of sharing at the Planetary Health Centre yesterday, from T`ai-chi to workshops on the Frogs of the Blue Mountains, Fashion Upcycling and How to Build a Survival Garden in the Blue Mountains. We finished with a Bushcare session in which we enjoyed the beautiful bushland on the site and removed invasive weeds to expand the habitat for wildlife around our swamp. We were joined by frogs in our pond and the little echidna who returned for a swim! Thank you to everyone who shared so generously. We tasted Yacon and shared rhizomes, Purple Congo Potatoes, Oca, Turmeric, and seeds for Salsify, Egyptian Spinach, Red Mustard, Echinacea, Parsley, Chard, Radish, and Red Noodle Beans. Our next Skillshare Saturday will be on the first Saturday of May. If you`d like to be notified of all our workshops, and the meetings of our Seed Saving and Gardening Groups, subscribe to receive the fortnightly Planetary Health newsletter at any of our Local News sites like www.katoombalocalnews.com (links in profile) #skillshare #planetaryhealth #taichi #qigong #frogs #bluemountains #katoomba #fashionupcycling #upcyclingfashion #survivalgardens #seedsaving #loofah #community
Our Skillshare Saturdays are on the 1st Saturday of every month and we`re looking forward to a beautiful sunny day tomorrow for our first Morning T`ai-chi & Qigong. Fashion Upcycling is booked out this month, but we still have a few places for Frogs of the Blue Mountains, Building a Survival Garden and Planetary Health Bushcare. Bookings via Eventbrite (links in profile). For more information ph. 0407 437 553
#skillshare #planetaryhealth #sunnyday #katoomba #bluemountains #taichi #qigong #frogs #seedsaving #survivalgardens #bushcare
Imagine, if just once a month, everyone gave a few hours back to nature to repair the damage we`ve done. We would so quickly restore the habitat of so many species struggling to survive and provide the habitat for many more to flourish. Once a month, for three hours, our Planetary Health Bushcare group does just that. We`re repairing the damage of human impact and being immediately rewarded by our time in nature and the great company of the other members of our Bushcare Group. We`ll be meeting again this Saturday 5 April at 1.30pm and all are welcome to join us and learn more. Contact Karen Hising at [email protected] or call the Bushcare Office on 4780 5623 if you`d like to give it a try.
For more information about the Planetary Health Centre and how you can get involved contact the Planetary Health office on 0407 437 553
#bushcare #biodiversity #wildlife #habitat #regeneration #planetaryhealth #community #allinthistogether #bushcare #katoomba #bluemountains
In our `How to Build a Survival Garden in the Blue Mountains` workshop on Saturday 5 April, we`ll be starting an Upper Mountains Seed Saving group and sharing seeds, tubers, recipes for more unusual foods, and information about the many ways we can create more food system diversity and resilience. Learn about skirret, salsify, collards, cardoons, sea kale, Good King Henry, mangel wurzel, oca, yacon and more. Places are limited so bookings essential here (link in profile) : bit.ly/4kVAUA8
#foodsystems #foodsecurity #fooddiversity #foodresilience #biodiversity #planetaryhealth #healthydiet #plantbased #katoomba #bluemountains
Was that a frog or cricket you heard? Check out our video matching the photos of the 20 frogs of the Blue Mountains Mountains with their calls so you can learn the difference. View our exhibition, learn how to use the FrogID app, and how to build a frog pond and frog hotel, at our workshop this Saturday 5 April at 9am. Bookings via via link in profile. You can view our full video on YouTube (link in profile). Subscribe for more great content. #frogs #bluemountainsfrogs #planetaryhealth #katoomba #frogcalls #exhibition #workshop
A huge thank you to the Blue Mountains Interfaith Group for organising an inspiring afternoon that brought community together and renewed our sense of connection, hope, wonder, shared purpose and commitment to care for our extraordinary planet. We had a full house with the Frogs of the Blue Mountains looking over our shoulders! Next Saturday 5 April we`ll be launching Saturday morning T`ai-chi and Qigong which will continue on the first Saturday of every month. Bookings essential here (link in profile): bit.ly/3Rn9RzY #interfaith #hope #wonder #commitment #connection #community #planetaryhealth #katoomba #bluemountains #taichi #qigong
Our Planetary Health Newsletter is out! Read it here https://bit.ly/4l7sC89 (link in profile) to find out how Planetary Health has been at the core of Blue Mountains City Council`s Sustainability Model and Map for Action for 25 years and what it means; watch our `We Are Nature` video and our latest video on the Frogs of the Blue Mountains and all their calls; read about how we`re focusing on what connects us, not what separates us, at the Interfaith Gathering this Sunday 30 March; learn how you can take action for Planetary Health on Saturday 5 April with T`ai-chi & Qigong, workshops on the Frogs of the Blue Mountains and building Survival Gardens; and participating in Planetary Health Bushcare. There`s also still time to apply for our Conference and Events Organiser position at the Planetary Health Centre. You can subscribe to receive the newsletter at any of our local news sites, like www.katoombalocalnews.com (link in profile)
@ph_alliance
#planetaryhealth #sustainability #jobs #taichi #qigong #survivalgardens #frogs #bluemountains #katoomba #mapforaction #sustainabilitymodel #wearenature #interfaith #bushcare #community #action
