Rag Trade

Rag Trade is simply a lovely, and functional idea. From the outside it looks like yet another boutique, but their concept is just great. Basically they are a dress agency, who you bring your unwanted designer clothes to, and they price it and put it in their shop for sale. Hence, anyone wanting to find some unique price slashed designer pieces, try here!
The clothes stay on the racks only for 7 weeks, in which they get lower in price as the weeks go, if the clothing doesn’t sell. After that 7 weeks, they go to charity. So if you are a seller, and if your item does sell in the shop, you either get 40% of the sale price in cash, or 50% of the sale price, in store credit.
Ideal for label lovers, or those who are just looking for something non high street. The 7 week rule ensures the stock changes regularly, and I’m really glad that a shop like this seems to be sustaining itself through the more difficult economic times. It’s quite inspiring.

For quality without the price tag, Rag Trade should be first on everyone’s list. An original idea from a London couple, Rag Trade buys off second hand designer or high quality items of clothing and sells them on, restoring a third of the initial price to the seller.
If you either have an expensive item of clothing you’re reluctant to just donate to charity, or you’re in search of an original piece without doing too much damage to your bank account, Rag Trade is perfect.
The downside of course is that there are no refunds. So if you buy something (as I did) and then regret it later, there’s no going back. However, given that everything is so respectably priced it’s not too much of an issue.
The owners select all the clothing with love and care and there are some truly fantastic pieces in the shop. It’s a treasure trove for fashion fans and the atmosphere is invariably soothing with low key music gently playing in the background making it one of the most pleasant shopping experiences in town.

Absolute heaven for designer fashion fans who tend to ogle clothes on the pages of women’s glossies rather than being able to buy them, this yummy, silky shop is the place to «live the dream» without breaking the purse.
Run by very stylish women with a passion for gorgeous clothes, the shop has the feel of a posh young ladies’ swap party; anyone buying, selling or trading here will engage in enjoyable chatter with other women. As the website says, it’s all about getting together «a network of sisters». The spirit and fun of the swapping, and the sense of it as a women’s club, is all part of the game here.
It’s not ideal for browsing, though. Make a special trip here to get stuck in with the experience.

I wish this shop stocked men’s clothes!
Now I don’t know if more mirrors are being manufactured or if it’s the result of a subtle advertising campaign but I’m sure more men nowadays are taking more pride in their appearance. It would be a godsend, essentially, if places like RagTrade could be of service to us.
The idea is spot on.
A shop that gathers, in their own terms, pre-​loved designer women’s wear. Another delightful name they call themselves is The Recycle Boutique. Think modern feminine Dickensian, with a kind of sexy urban twist. The website, the flyers and of course the shop are all very poetic and friendly, offering services to customers of all age, budget and occasion.
With regular discounts and sales they must be, I am sure, popular with the local student market.
Indeed it is shops like this, and thus the writing of reviews about, that I sometimes feel I’d have made a pretty good woman.
A shopaholic, but woman nonetheless.
Roll on the man’s Rag Trade!

Absolutely beautiful.
If you, like me, love the thought of owning designer clothes but can’t afford it… well here’s your chance! I walked in and thought I might have died and gone to heaven, it was only the very slight ‘these clothes aren’t quite new’ smell that brought me down to earth.
Everything I allowed my hands to brush was still in tip-​top condition, and if you wish to part with a designer item you’ve fallen out of love with you can pass it on here and receive a percentage of the sale price.
Beware: It’s still possible to have your heart broken here. I picked up an exquisite dress, which was reasonably priced, to find it was about 4 sizes too big — either you have to hope and pray it’s your size… or know someone who’s good at alterations!