Finding second-hand items doesn’t need to be a hunt – the team behind Canberra Garms have done all the hard work for you. Photo: Claire Sams.
From the internet to Braddon, a new op shop is making vintage shopping more accessible.
During their weekends and free periods at school, Aiden Hellyer, Tom Rush, Gaby Leydman, Finn Harmer and Amaru Ley could often be found digging through pre-loved clothing racks for that special find.
The group formed in primary school and high school, often going thrifting together at shops in Dickson or Sydney, or the Green Shed.
“We’d talk about clothes a little bit, but it evolved into vintage clothing once it started to become a bit more of a thing,” Tom says.
But it led to an unexpected problem – they had too many clothes.
Rather than keep their finds to themselves, they started selling on the online marketplace Depop, where sellers can list second-hand items for sale, storing stock in Tom’s parents’ garage.
“After maybe six to eight months, we got into buying in bulk more,” he says.
“I can’t remember what point it was, but we had 10 to 15 boxes just chilling there at a time.
After “invading the garage”, they moved to a warehouse in Fyshwick and grew the store further, which became the number one Depop store in Australia.
Now, the five teenagers are tackling their next challenge: a bricks-and-mortar store.
For their physical storefront, they’ve moved to where Trilogy Skateboards was on Lonsdale Street.
“We realised there was nothing stopping us,” Amaru says of opening the store.
“The Depop had the cash flow that allowed us to do it … We just started calling up real estate agents, looking for leases, and there was a good opportunity here.”
At Canberra Garms, the focus is on second-hand and vintage finds from recent decades (think Y2K and Juicy Couture of the 90s and 2000s).
Both the digital storefront and the physical store stock vintage American brands, along with sportswear brands like Nike, Adidas and Puma. The group is also set to expand its selection of women’s clothing.
“There’s more second-hand and sustainable fashion, rather than fast fashion, around,” Finn says.
“Public opinion on clothing is shifting towards being second-hand and used, and we’re one of the options for that. We’re filling the gap in Canberra.”
But shoppers can still scroll through the online shop or visit their in-person store – Amaru says both are staying the same.
“We’re going to have both active, every day. All our out-of-state customers won’t suffer at all – that will be completely the same,” he says.
“We’re giving something extra back to Canberra.”
The teenagers are keen for Canberrans to go on their thrifting journeys and find a special piece for their wardrobes.
“Stuff back then was made a bit better – now, the quality is worse, and it’s more expensive,” Amaru says.
“When the stuff already exists, we just have to get it to the people.”
Canberra Garms opens Saturday, 5 April, and is located at G16/27 Lonsdale Street in Braddon.
