Whether the cost of living crisis is squeezing your budget, or if you have children who simply grow like weeds and you can't keep up – secondhand shopping might be the answer for you! Back in the olden times (or as we used to call them, the 90s), finding secondhand items in Luxembourg was akin to searching for a needle in a haystack, but these days, the Grand Duchy does a roaring trade in used clothing or toys.
And what's more, by shopping secondhand you'll be doing your bit for the environment, as the clothing industry is among the world's largest polluters. Cheap and climate-friendly – what's not to love?
Here are some of our favourite places to hunt down a bargain!:
This store is run by the non-profit CIGL Differdange, an initiative seeking to boost the local labour market and to support jobseekers through fixed-term positions and additional training. If the Butzebuttik's philanthropic origins weren't enough, it's stocked with heaps of children's clothing up to the age of 12, as well as a range of toys, books, and baby accessories such as car seats and strollers. The shop also welcomes donations on-site, provided the items are in good condition.
The shop is open from 10am–6pm Tuesday to Friday, and from 9am–5pm on Saturday.
Trouvailles a is a thrift store selling an array of tings, for both adults and children, in all price ranges. Conveniently located close to Gare train station, the shop is open Monday to Saturday from 10am until 6.30pm.
This charity shop, run by non-profit Ligue HMC, an organisation which supports people with mental and cerebral disabilities, offers a range of clothing and equipment for children up to the age of 12. The items are carefully sorted and checked for quality. The store also sells a selection of toys and books.
Spanish clothing chain Zara has a dedicated pre-owned section on its website and also ships to Luxembourg. Although the items are not the cheapest, it's a great way to shop Zara Baby and Zara Kids on a budget without necessarily battling your way through the sales!
Online platform Vinted is quickly gathering momentum in Luxembourg when it comes to buying and selling pre-owned pieces. The only thing you need to keep an eye on are delivery partners – as Luxembourg is linked to several other EU countries, such as France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Spain, postage could add up. However, sellers often offer bundles, particularly for kids' clothes. Happy browsing!
There are also second-hand sales organised by communes and different organisations on an ad-hoc basis throughout the year.
Here are a couple of upcoming events:
A charitable women's association based in Roeser, Fraentreff Réiserbann runs two annual secondhand clothing fairs, offering high-quality items at reasonable prices, as well as special pre-sale access for baby clothes. The fairs have been going since 1999 and regularly raise thousands of euros for a number of family-oriented or women-supporting charities. The next second hand sale will take place on 9 and 10 October, with the pre-sale on 8 October.
From 21 September at 10am to 27 September at 6pm, there will be a second hand pop-up store selling high quality children's clothes, in Luxembourg city.
