When it comes to thrifting, Ukraine is a hidden gem. Low prices and a huge range of goods tempt tourists from all over the world. However, thrifting is a lottery. But no guts, no glory, right? Read our guide to the best places and be ready to become an explorer.
Kiev
PrivetOUTLET
Shop, Market
PrivetOUTLET is a new venue for shoppers, who don’t like to overpay for novelties. At the market, you can find the previous collections of the world’s favourite brands COS, & OtherStories, H&M or Scotch & Soda. Moreover, you will see how the price was formed in accordance with the principle of outlet-retail, as the price list has two numbers: the previous one and the one with the discount.
This is the real empire of second-hand clothes in Kiev. Do not expect to get around this place in one day. Hunters for unique and extraordinary items will be catered with endless rows of garments. Lesnaya market is a place where you can find absolutely everything from branded accessories to carnival costumes. The most pleasant part of this kind of thrifting is pricing. As a decent shirt can be found for 25-30 UAH ($1).
A large shopping centre, Metrograd is the heart of the capital of Ukraine. Being located between Khreschatyk street (the main street in Kiev), the complex tries to please everyone with numerous shops for clothing, footwear, children’s goods, cosmetics, leather pharmacies and much more. It is divided into 13 blocks (there’s a quarter of gifts, for example), so you don’t have to wander around and can go straight to the destination. Due to the high competition, there are tempting discounts and promotions during the whole year.
Petrivka (a distant part of the historic district of Kiev — Podol) has long been the major flea area of the capital. It has the spirit of the Soviet 90s: on the tablecloths, there are Chinese dishes, old analogue cameras, decorative items, as well as vintage clothes and jewellery. Despite the exact address (Petra Dehtyarenka St, 19, former Verbnaya St), the flea market stretches through the whole street up to the beginning of the bordering Stepana Bandery Avenue.
A secret place for thrifting hides from the public in the pavilions of the International Exhibition Centre (where the Eurovision 2017 was held) near the metro station Livoberezhna. The venue is called Club of collectors and is organized exclusively on every last Saturday of the month from 6 am. The sellers come from the former CIS countries to offer a wide range of goods: from kitchen utensils to military orders. The prices vary from incredibly cheap to sky-high, but after spending some time in the market and having a good bargain, you can catch hold of something unique and valuable.
The Vernissage is a market of souvenirs and gifts. It is located in the city centre, nearby the Lviv Opera and Ballet Theatre and open all year-round. If you are looking for memorable and exclusive pieces from Ukraine, this is definitely the place to go. The stalls of the Vernissage market are full of handmade accessories, décor items made of natural wood and leather. Traditional Ukrainian shirts (vyshyvanka) are of special interest, as most of them are embroidered by hand.
A legendary wholesale and retail market of manufactured goods are called the Seventh-Kilometre, as it is located 4.3 miles (7 km) from Odessa city. It has operated since 1989 and is considered to be the largest market not only in Ukraine but in Europe. The number of stalls is immense, as the place contains 20,000 warehouses, pavilions and shops. In recent years, the Seventh-Kilometre developed its infrastructure and can fairly be compared to a separate city of retail.
This is the largest chain of second-hand and vintage clothes in Ukraine. All the items in the shops are logically sorted by colour and type and neatly hung over the shoulders. The delivery is conducted once a month and the most notable and quality pieces are labelled as exclusive. Fitting rooms are a pleasant bonus in order to make sure you don’t waste your time and money.
It is a chain of shops, which can be found in all major cities, including Lviv. In Euro Style shop you can buy everything and for everyone, as they have even a children’s department. There are some stock clothes and second-hand pieces from leading warehouses: Zara, Mango, Tommy Hilfiger, Diesel and many others. The shop offers a vast amount of products for the home, such as bed linen, curtains, towels, tablecloths or bathroom items for extremely low prices.
Another chain that has a dozen spots around Kiev and a lot of branches throughout Ukraine. It has been on the market already for 12 years and has established itself as a shop with low prices and good quality products. The items are sold per kilogram. At the cashier, there are scales, which form the price. The stock is updated once a week, so the possibility to find some exclusive pieces is high.
