Designer brand clothes lay scattered throughout the racks at Buffalo Exchange, and it was up to the frantically searching hoards of girls to find them.
Banana Republic, American Eagle and Billabong are just a few of the name brands the store carries.
Although not the largest secondhand clothing store in Eugene, Buffalo Exchange makes up for it with its fashionable and quality selection of clothing and accessories.
“I just found a Free People tank top, and it even still has the tag on it!” University freshman Allyana Wiviott exclaimed after discovering a designer tank for $15, rather than the department store price of $50.
Although Buffalo Exchange has a small men’s section, most of the store’s space is devoted to women’s shorts, pants, dresses, shirts and coats. The store carries designer purses and even shoes. It was Wiviott’s first visit to a secondhand clothing store. She had tried to sell back some of her unwanted fashions, but Buffalo Exchange didn’t buy back the items she brought in. The store takes pride in the fact that they don’t take just any item.
“We base our buying decisions off of what sells in the stores,” manager Kari Pape said.
“We take a lot of tees and jeans because we sell a lot of those things. However, we also look at trends. Boots have been really hot, so we are buying a lot of those right now.”
Despite the store’s selectivity when choosing clothes to buy, it benefits customers looking for quality clothes at lower prices.
“The clothes are cheaper, and you can find things here that are like new,” Wiviott said. “Most of the clothes in the store are pretty current.”
Voted the No. 1 secondhand clothing store in Eugene, Buffalo Exchange tailors its selection to college-age students who love to shop and look for ways to save some money on fashionable clothes.
“This is just a fun place to come,” Pape said. “I just love clothes, and it is really cool to work in a place that recycles them.”
2nd Place: St. Vincent de Paul, 100 East 11th Ave.
Any one of the six St. Vincent de Paul thrift and retail stores in the Eugene community could provide hours of entertainment for those in search of recycled and off-the-wall items.
The St. Vincent de Paul thrift store has everything from hand-carved shoes to endless racks of new and outdated clothing. Although situated in a seemingly unremarkable building on East 11th Avenue, the store offers Eugene residents a place to find clothes, accessories, keepsakes and knickknacks for reasonable prices.
Charlie Harvey, the associate executive director of St. Vincent de Paul, has been involved with the organization for more than 11 years.
“The college population and low income people aren’t going to the mall to buy new things right now. They are looking to save some money,” he said. “It’s also a lot of fun because it’s kind of like a treasure hunt here. We put new things out every day.”
St. Vincent de Paul runs six thrift stores and several homeless shelters in the Eugene community. The thrift stores emphasize the importance of recycling items such as clothing, mattresses and books.
“We are always looking for different things to recycle, especially in Eugene,” Harvey said. “We are very environmentally conscious. We are basically a creation of the community, and we try to give back to the community in that way.”
3rd Place: Clothes Horse, 720 East 13th Ave.
A short walk from campus on East 13th Avenue sits the Clothes Horse women’s clothing store. The Clothes Horse fits an abundance of clothes and styles into a small space. Although the secondhand clothing store attracts women of all ages and styles, it has done well near the University community since 1992.
Zoe Sargent, a University senior majoring in fiber arts, has worked at the Clothes Horse for about a year.
“This is a University area, and the secondhand style has been sort of trendy in the last 10 years with the whole vintage look,” Sargent said.
The store carries classic, laid-back sweaters and cardigans, as well as formal gowns with embroidery and beads featured on the wall. The Clothes Horse offers an array of different styles that cater to all ages. No matter what someone is looking for, there is a good chance of finding it at this secondhand store.
The Clothes Horse brings secondhand clothing for all fashion senses close to campus, while reminding customers about the importance of recycling clothing and accessories.
“First and foremost, just reusing clothing is important,” Sargent said. “It doesn’t need to be thrown away, and there are a wide variety of styles available in this one small store.”