The best second-hand shops in Münster

The city of bicycles, Münster, is a lovely place to visit in the North-Westphalia, Germany. It is known for its bikes since even though the city has only 300.000 inhabitants, the number of bicycles in it is approximately 500.000! With its young population, there is so much to see and do there, from museums to historical places, lovely cafes and also second-hand shops! 

But you might ask, why second-hand shopping Alara? Well, for years, I would say that second-hand shopping is neither hygienic nor trendy. But since fast-fashion is literally fast, many environmentally conscious people tend to giveaway and re-purpose their old clothes: clothes that do not fit or clothes that they simply do not want to wear anymore. And today, buying secondhand is a super popular trend. It also has lots of benefits! Second-hand pieces are often in good condition but sadly end up landing in some dumpster instead of being donated or re-sold. And did you know that the production of a single pair of jeans requires over 6.000 liters of water?? And I am not even talking about packing and transportation yet! Another sad part is that if the clothes are not sold, they just end up in landfills! So it is time to stop buying clothes from fast-fashion brands and give a shot to second-hand shopping. Because what do we want? Climate justice! And when do we want it? Now! 

If the environmental aspect is not enough, think about the manufacturing side of the clothes. Most of the brands manufacture in impoverished regions, where workers produce clothing for very long hours for a meager wage - most likely abused daily too. Also, second-hand shopping is a great way to save money. You can always find clothing from top-notch brands at bargain prices just because they have no longer appeal to their previous owner. It is also a nice feeling, owning a piece of cloth that no one else has! For almost two years now, I only thrift clothes unless I am looking for underwear and bikinis. If you are in Germany, you can also use thrifting apps like KleiderKreisel. I made over 500 Euro just by selling my perfect conditioned clothes and also renewed my entire wardrobe. If you want to experience the whole second-hand shopping eleganza extravaganza in Münster, then here is your guide! 

If you are looking for vintage pieces, you have to check out the Kaufladen. Vintage is known to be very trendy in Germany. In Kaufladen, you will find an extensive range of second-hand goods from luxurious brands, for both men and women. You will most likely find clothes, shoes, etc. from Jil Sander to Gucci, Prada, Polo, Dolce&Gabbana, Fendi, Missoni, Valentino. The best part is that all the clothes are not older than two or three seasons! You can shop here every Tuesday to Friday between 11:30-18:30 and on Saturdays between 11:00-15:00.

Oxfam's motto is "For a fairer world, without poverty," and I guess it explains a lot. Lİke every other thrift shop/second-hand shop, things that are no longer needed are brought into the Oxfam shops and sold there by volunteers. All the money earned from selling the second-hand items are used to finance emergency aid and development projects, as well as part of the campaign work of Oxfam Deutschland e.V. Here, you will find almost everything from women's and men's clothing to shoes, accessories, jewelry, even housewares, home textiles, books, CDs, DVDs, games and of course toys! The shop is open from Monday till Friday between 10.00 and 19.00, and on Saturday between 10.00 and 15.00.

And lastly, the famous Coco Second-Hand! This massive 200 sqm shop is the biggest shop for second-hand fashion in Münster. Here, you will find a comprehensive selection of women's, men's, and children's clothing, as well as evening wear, shoes, bags, and other accessories. All the clothes in Coca are well-preserved and branded. You can shop sizes from 36 till 46 for women, for men from 48 till 54, and for children from 86 till 140 cm. The shop is open every Monday till Friday from 10.00-13.00 and 15.00-18.00, and every Saturday between 11.00-14.00.