Latest news with #2ndStreet
Time Out
10-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Time Out
This new Japanese-inspired vintage thrift store and café in Singapore has curated treasures and tasty bakes
The thrifting movement in Singapore is at its peak right now – especially with popular Japanese thrift shop chain 2nd Street recently opening at Orchard, alongside plenty of other smaller local youth-owned secondhand stores. Now before you groan and say, 'another one?' with regards to this growing – and perhaps now soon-to-be-saturated – category of fashion stores on our homeground, hear us out: Takara House, located in a second-floor shophouse unit near the mouth of Haji Lane, isn't just yet another small biz that's out to get a share of the pie. Many of the newer thrift stores that have opened in the past couple of years carry streetwear items that are quite similar to that of each other – think graphic tees, pullovers, denim jackets, and caps from the 80s to early 2000, often from mainstream brands – and what were once considered fresh finds are now starting to become commonplace. Takara House doesn't rely on such trends, and instead presents a well-curated line-up based on the young owners' own interests, all personally sourced from abroad in places like Japan and Vietnam. On the clothing racks you'll find an assortment of shirts, vests with unique patterns and embroidery, leather jackets and more from labels you may or may not have heard of, all for a fraction of their original prices – this ranges from around $30 to $80. The apparel selection leans more towards menswear, but there's also a small section for ladies; we spotted cute cottagecore dresses with Peter Pan collars, and items from Japanese brands Axes Femme and Cecil McBee for a steal. The best part? There's a changing room available, so you can try stuff on and make sure it suits you nicely before splashing the cash. Complete the look with accessories like vintage handbags, belts, rings (from $12), earrings (from $15, buy two get one free), and rhinestone brooches. But fashion is just one aspect of what Takara House has to offer. It's a whole living time capsule of treasures including teddy bear tapestries, curly-haired antique dolls, forgotten Happy Meal toys, ceramic animals, old-school Troll dolls, action figures still in their original packaging, and intricate porcelain teacups fit for royalty – you'll feel like you've stepped right into a granny's cosy cottage. You can also pick up assorted Pokemon cards here at just $1 for five pieces, and we hear that the Anpanman figurines and Peko-chan Christmas plates (from $20) in particular are some of the more popular merch picks right now. This isn't Takara House's first foray into the vintage thrifting space. For the past two years or so, it's been running on a smaller scale with pop-up stalls by The Hammock Market, Chinatown, The Retro Factory and Singapore's version of Chatuchak market. With the timely and serendipitous boom of secondhand shopping, this permanent physical space was finally born – and with it, the owner's sister's home-based bakery also found itself a place to call home. You'll see her in the kitchen area sectioned off behind the payment counter, painstakingly preparing the fresh treats of the day, solo. The fact that is a solo venture is made even more impressive when you taste its pastries. The matcha pistachio shortcake ($15) is a perfect balance of flavours – not too bitter, not overly laden with cream, and wholly approved by a colleague who typically doesn't like pistachio desserts – while those who appreciate a sweet-sour zing are sure to enjoy the lemon meringue tart ($12). The Japanese matcha tart ($15) and strawberry shortcake ($15) are also popular picks. Other items baked with love include madeleines ($3) in flavours like early grey, vanilla, and pandan, as well as financiers ($3.80) and fruit pound cakes ($3.80). Grab a seat by the window, and enjoy your sweet treat with a simple coffee (from $4); cold concoctions like yuzu manuka honey ($5.80) and citrus blossom tea ($6); or a comforting hot brew of Alishan oolong ($6), lychee tea ($5.50) and more. Whether it's to work through the entire menu of pastries or check out the latest restocks, this nostalgic nook is one that we'd see ourselves returning to over and over again – and we can't wait to see what other gems they'll surprise us with in the months to come. TIME OUT TIP Check out Takara House's Instagram stories to see the dessert line-up for the day. While there's no fixed schedule for the rotation of bakes, you can expect a decent range of tarts, at least one cake, and a couple of financier or madeleine flavours for your choosing on pretty much any given day. Takara House is located at Level 2 of 674 North Bridge Road, and operates from 10am to 10pm daily, while operates from 10am to 8pm daily except on Tuesdays. While you're there, check out the other things to do in Kampong Gelam, explore Groundseesaw's immersive art exhibitions nearby, drop by Serangoon BBQ & Curry's Raffles Hospital outlet for affordable Nyonya-inspired nasi padang, and end the day off with a nightcap at Atlas, a grand Art Deco-inspired bar in Singapore's very own Gotham building.
Straits Times
01-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Straits Times
Viewpoint: Thrift stores can't thrive in Singapore if treated as dumping grounds for fast fashion
SINGAPORE – Trust me when I say that no one is more delighted about the arrival of 2nd Street in Singapore than me. A loyal fan since my first trip to Japan in 2023, I have structured entire holidays around thrifting at the store and other popular reuse chains. When I came down with food poisoning on a four-day trip to Taipei in 2024, I dragged my medicated self out of bed to continue crossing off every 2nd Street outlet I had bookmarked in the city. It was well worth the queasiness because I left with prized finds, including a vintage Prada bag for under $300. And I am not partial to any one chain. Since I was a teenager trawling flea markets at Scape, I have loved the thrill of the hunt when it comes to shopping pre-loved goods, to add something unique to my wardrobe. So, I have had mixed feelings about the rise of thrift stores, particularly in Singapore. Like any phenomenon that starts with good intentions, the growing interest in thrifting has been double-edged. In theory, having more people value second-hand goods helps undo some of the pollution caused by the fashion industry, as it extends the life cycle of an item and keeps it relevant in the market for longer. But the reality is hardly this simple or rosy. Thrifting does not slow down the appetite for consumption, especially when it is seen only as an 'in' thing to do. In fact, as it gains popularity for novelty or perceived coolness, many simply tack a visit to the thrift store on top of existing negative patterns of consumption. 2nd Street's buy-and-sell policy, which it is relying on to make up the stock in its Singapore store, is also worrisome. Fast-fashion culture and easy access to marketplaces like Taobao and Shopee have shaped how a lot of people – particularly the younger generation now interested in thrifting – have grown up. A $3 top is just a tap away; online hauls can now arrive in the same day and be returned the next. As such, many local shoppers still treat second-hand stores as dumping grounds for unwanted goods, to clear out their wardrobes so they can refill with newness. 2nd Street, one of the largest second-hand chain stores in Japan, intends to rely on items purchased from domestic sellers to make up at least half of the Singapore stock. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE It is why charity shops like Salvation Army have had to turn away donations; why pre-loved stores like Refash – a home-grown thrift shop player that once led the charge in buying and reselling used clothing from shoppers – have become choked with fast-fashion and blogshop brands. Few can claim to truly uphold the values behind second-hand shopping – which is to keep fashion circular and reduce new items unnecessarily entering the loop. It seems almost sacrilegious to shop at a thrift store and go home to a wardrobe full of clothes from Shein and Shopee. Compare this with the Japanese, who, on top of valuing good brands and local designers, are known for taking good care of their clothes. It is a big factor as to why the stock you see in Japanese reuse stores is still often in pristine condition. Moreover, human nature rules that the majority of people will end up competing for the best of the best – which, in a thrift store, is the same small pool of treasured items, designer or not. And how sustainable – pun unintended – can a business be when everyone offloads his or her poor-quality pieces in the same place expected to give gems ? Hours before 2nd Street's opening day at 313@somerset on April 29, a regular Tuesday morning, winding queues wrapped around the first local outpost in anticipation. I would willingly bet that those in line were there for the debut drop of bargain luxury goods, which many believe will be the best. No second-hand store is exempt from these woes. Mr Raye Padit of swopping platform The Fashion Pulpit (TFP) notes that despite healthy numbers, 30 per cent of its inventory does not get swopped out. 'It's stock that is hard to move. Everyone assumes that because our business is about swopping, everything would circulate, but no,' he says. To cope, he funnels this 30 per cent to TFP's sister label PlayDate, a more Gen Z-focused thrift store, or upcycles them into custom pieces under his label PeyaRework. TFP may have found a workaround, but the same cannot be said for all second-hand stores. There is a reason they have had a hard time shaking the stigma attached – thrift stores started out as places for the underprivileged or lower-income to enjoy shopping without strain on their finances. Now that thrifting has evolved into a trend, we not only rob those who need them of decent finds, but we have also capitalised on the system to fill it with junk. Designer luxury goods at 2nd Street Singapore photographed on April 15, ahead of the store's official opening. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE Of course, that is not to say that people cannot buy fast fashion or cheap first-hand clothing . Rather, it is about adopting the right mentality towards shopping. Ask yourself these questions before you troop down with a bag of discards. Are you selling your clothes at flea markets and to stores like 2nd Street and Refash only because they have gone out of style, and to make space for more? What made you buy the piece in the first place if you did not see it lasting in your wardrobe for longer than a year? Will this drop-off be the last? When you truly buy into the lifestyle of thrifting, you consider every new piece in front of you more consciously, because every new addition feels like a burden. Growing your wardrobe is an individual responsibility people cannot take lightly – if not for the sake of the planet, then at least to maintain the quality and variety in the thrift stores. Amanda Chai is a style correspondent at The Straits Times, where she covers all things fashion, beauty, luxury and retail. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
AsiaOne
21-04-2025
- Business
- AsiaOne
Fashion meets sustainability: A sneak peek at 2nd Street outlet in Orchard, opening on April 29, Lifestyle News
2nd Street is coming to Singapore, merging sustainability and style. Japan's largest secondhand fashion store is set to open its first Singapore outlet at 313@Somerset on April 29. Known for its curated selection of pre-owned fashion items, 2nd Street aims to make secondhand shopping more convenient, stylish and accessible for fashion lovers in Singapore. Located at Basement 1 of the shopping mall, the 6,198 sq ft store will hold more than 23,000 handpicked items straight from Japan — from casual streetwear to luxury international brands. Though this is its first store outlet in Singapore, 2nd Street has nearly 1,000 stores worldwide, with more than 800 stores in Japan alone. What to expect A rewarding thrifting experience often ends with something unique and wallet-friendly — and it seems that 2nd Street seeks to deliver on both fronts. With prices starting at $5, 2nd Street offers a range of items that will likely suit thrifting enthusiasts, regardless of their budget or fashion preferences. Sneakerheads will find plenty to get excited about, with a variety of Nike Air Force 1s and Nike Air Jordans to choose from. Outdoor enthusiasts can look forward to items from The North Face, Gregory and Outdoor Products on the racks. And if you're on the lookout for luxury brands, we spotted a number of steals during the media preview on Monday (April 21) — from Louis Vuitton and Chanel bags to Hermes watches. Fashion meets sustainability At its core, 2nd Street champions sustainable fashion and prides itself on being a reuse shop that offers a wide range of quality pre-owned items. A spokesperson shared with AsiaOne that the brand aims to make the thrifting experience fun for customers, likening it to a treasure hunt. He added: "We always aim to rotate our items on a daily or weekly basis. Ideally, every time a customer comes in, there should be something new to discover, be it new items people bring in or items we rotate." Customers are encouraged to contribute and be part of the thrifting community by offering their pre-loved items to 2nd Street, giving these items a new lease of life. While 2nd Street has an evaluation process for these items, customers need not book appointments beforehand and same-day quotes are also available. Items that pass the quality test can then be resold, recycled or upcycled into something new, continuing their journey in the fashion ecosystem. Thrifting enthusiasts can visit the brand's website and Instagram page for more details. Address: 313 Orchard Rd, #B1 - 23 to 34, Singapore 238895 Opening hours: Daily, 11am to 10pm [[nid:715747]] amierul@
