A professional stylist, Dualleh Abdulrahman in Netherlands has various hobbies such sewing, drawing and photography, but he also loves thrifting. He describes himself as having a ‘poor man’s style’, ‘something old, something new’.

The reason he started to shop at thrift stores is because he is interested in finding rare items and fabrics, particularly 1920’s or 50’s clothing are his favourites.

He loves clothing, but “there is no reason for me to buy a jacket in the shop for €300 when I can find the same in a thrift store for €9.00 so I decided to teach myself how to alter clothes” he said.

He added denim sleeves in his tweed blazer.

He tries to add new elements in his old clothes. Once he found a 20th century tweed blazer which looked old fashioned so he added denim sleeves to make it contemporary. This is how he describes “something old, something new”. I would say the old is the new!

He goes to thrift stores twice a week spending hours looking for nice clothes. “Sometimes I find nothing, but other days I can find a whole outfit” he added.

“I found an orange Harris tweed blazer and waistcoat from the 1920’s. The funny thing is I found the blazer first in one thrift store and the waistcoat I found after 6 months in another thrift store” he described. This is the glamour of a thrift store and how he has fun in thrifting. It is like finding a treasure in there.

As a stylist and considering how he loves clothing, I bet he must retain a lot of garments. He recounted that “I have in total 160 pants, 200 shirts, 100 shoes, 250 ties, 80 suspenders 30 belts, 200 waistcoats, 60 jackets & 40 blazers etc”. I was impressed by how many he has, definitely more than me.

“Most of the time my wife helps me to organize and manage it” he said with a puckish facial expression. “Yet things we don’t use, we donate and give back to the thrift stores”.

However, it is not that common for people to shop at thrift stores in the Netherlands. “Most Dutch fashion is inspired by the 80’s & 90’s. People just don’t feel like wasting time looking for rare clothes or customizing the clothes. They would rather go to vintage stores than thrift stores”.

He described the 1940’s as a special period of time which transformed and changed men’s fashion history from nightwear to blazers, giving the clothing a new story. In Netherlands you can find a complete three piece suit in a thrift store. It is a pity more people don’t see the special and the fun parts of thrift stores.

In the end, he said using a good washing powder can get you a long way. His friends make fun of him for wearing thrift clothes rather than buying new, but he emphasises “it is not I can’t buy new clothes I just like unique pieces”.

He proves that wearing used clothes can be stylish. It can be fun and meaningful, whatever the reasons as long as you accept the secondhand clothes, and take some time to walk into thrift stores to find your own style. Buying secondhand clothing certainly helps the environment. To extend the life of clothes is the best way to reduce textile waste and energy waste of the recycled garments process.

There is nothing wrong with going to a thrift store, why don’t you give it shot, and go thrifting?

I am glad I was able to chat with Dua and share his story. More photos here.

Thank Caroline who inspired me about this idea.

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