Every Question You Have About Vintage Wholesale Shopping Answered

Love the feeling of finding a gorgeous vintage dress or designer trousers for a fraction of their original price? Passionate about making sustainable fashion choices that are good for the environment? Then perhaps a vintage clothing store is the perfect business for you.

Owning a vintage clothing store can be both profitable and personally rewarding. An increasing number of consumers are shopping more consciously by opting for sustainable alternatives to fast fashion. According to a report by thredUP, the secondhand market is poised to grow 127% by 2026. Experts have seen the most growth in 2022, which stands to reason – archival fashion is currently experiencing a revival, with celebrities going to red-carpet events in designer pieces from seasons past.

Are you interested in having your own secondhand apparel business but don’t know how to buy wholesale vintage clothing or which vintage clothes wholesalers to buy from? In this article, we answer the most commonly asked questions about wholesale vintage clothing shopping to help you on your journey to being a vintage clothing store owner.

How to Buy Wholesale Vintage Clothing: Frequently Asked Questions and Their Answers

What’s the Difference Between Thrift Shops and Vintage Clothing Stores?

Some thrift shops specialize in vintage apparel, while others sell recently produced clothing or simply secondhand clothing. They even sell deadstock apparel which is clothes that are technically unworn but have been stored in warehouses for years.

Generally, a vintage clothing store only sells vintage clothing. “Vintage” refers to the year of production of the clothing being sold. In the secondhand clothing industry, “vintage” clothes are items made at least 20 to 100 years ago. Going by this definition, ‘90s Fubu apparel, Vivienne Westwood corsets from the ‘80s and Juicy Couture sweatpants from the early 2000s could all be considered vintage.

You can purchase bales and bundles of secondhand clothing collections from a number of vintage clothes wholesalers and rag houses online. However, be careful who you choose to buy from--some of which may send you Grade C clothing at Grade A prices, while others may send you nothing at all. Do your research before committing to a purchase. 

To be safe, it’s best to buy only from a reputable supplier with a physical location you can visit. By doing so, you can be confident that you’ll get what you pay for and know where to find them in case a problem with your purchase arises. 

At LA Vintage, we have been supplying thrift stores, designers, stylists and wholesalers for over 28 years. They’re a trusted name in the sustainable fashion industry and are considered Los Angeles’ leading rag house.

Buyers of wholesale vintage clothing can shop online for convenience or make an appointment to shop at LA Vintage’s 42,000-square-foot warehouse for their peace of mind.

“Grading” in the secondhand clothing industry refers to a condition-based sorting system. At rag yards and supplier warehouses, items are sorted according to their condition and quality. “Grading” in the secondhand clothing industry refers to this sorting process. Grading systems vary by supplier, but generally, the higher the grade, the better the quality.

The following is a common grading system used by vintage wholesale suppliers:

• Grade A (Grade 1) – Clothing graded as “A” is in excellent condition, with few or no flaws. Some pieces may show ordinary signs of wear that could easily be addressed, such as washable stains and missing buttons. For this reason, Grade A clothing costs more than pieces graded B and below.

• Grade B (Grade 2) – This includes pieces of clothing that are in good condition. However, they may have more significant flaws and signs of heavier wear, such as broken zippers on jeans, permanent stains, rips or holes.

• Grade C (Grade 3) – This clothing is of the lowest quality. They have flaws and damage that cannot be repaired. Some suppliers will sell Grade C at a very low price to clothing resellers, but often, Grade C clothing ends up in secondhand markets around the world or shredded to make rags.

Most suppliers, such as our LA Vintage team, offer bundles or bales of used clothing according to categories. LA Vintage, for instance, offers clothing sorted into bundles according to whether it’s for men, women, unisex or children. Bundles usually offer better value than buying by weight since bundled items have already been checked for damage and handpicked for quality.

Buying by weight is a good option if you want to save money or don’t have much capital. However, keep in mind that clothes sold by weight can vary in quality, condition and potential value.

The next step after learning how to buy wholesale vintage clothing is finding a supplier you can trust. You’ll likely be running your vintage clothing store for many years, so you need to partner with a vintage clothes wholesaler or rag house that can be relied on for consistently high-quality products.

At LA Vintage, we have made a name for ourselves in the secondhand fashion industry as the supplier of choice for countless clients, from vintage store owners to celebrity stylists. We have an extensive range of apparel, accessories and footwear for adults and children. To get started, simply fill out our online contact form with your requirements, and we’ll get in touch with you.