By Stephanie Blinn
Kind Exchange is a used clothing store that is taking
Toronto by storm. With 9 locations all over the city, it has become quite
popular, but there’s
something about it that’s
a little different. The interesting thing about Kind Exchange is that it’s a store that is
stocked entirely with clothing that comes from the customer. If you have any
unwanted clothes, you can take them to your nearest location, and the staff
will go through them and select what they’d
like for the store. Then, you have the option to either sell, trade, or donate
your clothes. Selling gives you cash on the spot, which is approximately 20% of
the selling price. Trading your clothes gives you in store credit, which is
transferrable between all locations and never expires. Plus, choosing the trade
option gives you 50% more value. You can also choose to donate your clothes to
the store, where a portion of the money made from the sale of those items will
be donated to a local charity.
Walking into one of the stores is every clothes
lover’s dream. Racks line the walls and stand on the
floors, full of well-priced garments from a wide range of styles just waiting
to be taken home. In my opinion, one of the best aspects of Kind Exchange is
how well the store is organized! Each type of garment has its own section in
the store, and the racks are all clearly divided by size, so it’s easy to find the perfect second hand treasure.
Clothes aren’t the only things sold at Kind Exchange; you can also find shoes
and accessories, like jewelry and sunglasses.
The
overall atmosphere of the store is great, and makes for a fun shopping
experience. High energy music is played throughout the store, and the staff are
very nice, inviting, and helpful. Prices in the store generally range from
around $10-$30, but they do carry some designer duds that are priced higher The
most popular brands include Zara, H&M, Forever 21, and Streetwear society,
but they also carry more upscale names with the likes of Manolo Blahnik. Like
any used clothing store though, it can be a bit of a hit or miss. There are
definitely a few treasures hiding in the racks that you won’t
be able to find anywhere else, but there are also pieces that don’t
seem to be anything special.
All in all, Kind Exchange is definitely a store
that’s worth visiting frequently. It’s especially perfect for those college students
who may be strapped for cash, but need to satisfy their shopping addiction.
