New Launch for Antwerp: Ethical second hand shopping by COSH!

In collaboration with De Kringwinkel Antwerp and the City of Antwerp, COSH! created a sustainable and ethical second-hand shopping map. The map guides you to 26 fashion addresses with second-hand clothing, 10 coffee spots, and lunch spots in and around Antwerp. Discover unique stores in hidden side streets and rest at sustainable lunch spots ‘en-route.

Do you want to discover ethical second-hand fashion in Antwerp? Pick up a free map at the Tourist Office on the Grote Markt and at the Antwerp Central Station.

Curated secondhand hotspots

On the map you can find adresses for women and men and parents who want to dress their children in ‘preloved items’ will also find some nice addresses on the map. You will discover Bobbi Ray, a circular hub where HAA’s sewing workshop transforms second-hand textiles into high-quality new clothing for kids. Also, Finn & Julia in Brasschaat is a great hotspot for environmentally conscious parents.

Many independent retailers on the map accept clothes from consumers on consignment or select the most beautiful gems for their customers. These spots are ideal for people who are discovering secondhand for the first time, but experienced thrifters are sure to find their thing too!

Pardaf, Scruples, and Annexe 32 have been part of the scenery of Antwerp’s city center for years. We had to put them on the map. We also have some newcomers Dressing Circles and One Hit Wonder. Each boutique has its own focus, guaranteeing a unique shopping experience!

FInd the participating store online on www.cosh.eco

Also discover secondhand fashion online

Each store point on the map has a QR code that leads to an online page at www.cosh.eco that teaches you about the sustainability of the store. COSH, the platform for sustainable fashion in Belgium, is now using the map to launch addresses for second-hand clothing online. Do you want to discover the participating stores online? Filter on Antwerp on our shopping guide page and tick the
tag ‘2^nd hand’ in the ‘Type store’ field.

“At COSH! we encourage consumers to shop sustainably and qualitatively. This can be done in different ways. For example by shopping new, eco-friendly garments. But we also consider second-hand purchases, upcycling, and borrowing clothes from libraries to be good options. The second-hand sector depends, of course, on a qualitative influx of beautiful clothing. We believe that the combination of new, recycled and second-hand fashion can make the industry truly circular.

COSH! research about the second-hand fashion industry

The second-hand fashion industry has many ecological benefits but also faces several challenges. What happens to the clothes we donate in textile containers? Where do the clothes in thrift stores come from and is all second-hand clothing ethical? Read more about the second-hand clothing industry in the articles below!