From Lagos to the UK, thrift shopping has taken on a new meaning for Ifeoma. She still enjoys the thrill and shares her tips for a successful thrift trip abroad.
Thrift shopping is a movement. Globally, the market is expected to double by 2027 and reach $350 billion, according to ThredUp’s 2023 resale report. Although it is now embraced as a sustainable, stylish way to shop, African women have been on this wave long before it became a trend. Sustainability is part of our heritage, with fashion pieces often passed down through generations.
Thrift shopping is one of my favourite things in life. I’m at my happiest when I find a rare gem, and trust me, I’m always looking. It’s an activity my mum and I bonded over early in life, and it also contributed to how I found my personal style. I sold thrifted clothes in university, then went on to run Thrift Store NG, one of the pioneer online thrift stores in Nigeria for six years, and even wrote an e-book!
As exciting as thrift shopping is, it requires knowledge and skill. Secondhand fashion has always been an affordable route to self-expression across Africa, but for African women living abroad, thrift shopping can take on a new meaning. There’s the culture shock, the difference in stocked pieces, and the challenge of navigating it all in different weather conditions.
Ifeoma Amadi, a Nigerian content creator, social media strategist, and pro thrift-shopper, enjoys thrift shopping as more than just a fun activity. It’s a connection to home, creatively honouring sustainability with style. Ifeoma moved to the UK two years ago and has continued to thrift with intention and joy. Almost every week, I discover her latest thrift buy via her Instagram story. Although her tastes haven’t particularly changed, it’s obvious she enjoys the experience better than when she was in Nigeria. In this feature, Ifeoma shares her story, tips, and what it really means to keep a Nigerian-born love for thrifting alive, miles away from home.
Read also: Eco-friendly fashion is not as difficult as you may think
From Lagos with love — Thrift shopping is a family tradition
Just like me, Ifeoma also got her love for thrift shopping from her mum. “My mum introduced me to thrift shopping,” she says. “When she was younger and living far from home, secondhand shopping helped her dress how she wanted without breaking the bank. Even when things got better, she kept going for the thrill of it, and she’d take us along. It became a core memory of my childhood.”
Eventually, that early exposure turned into a personal passion. “When I started making my own money, I’d go back to those same markets she showed me, bending down to select pieces I loved. It was a tradition she never planned, but it shaped me.”
Relocating to the UK didn’t slow Ifeoma down on her thrift shopping adventures; it simply gave her new territory to explore. “To be honest, I have experienced no culture shock with thrifting abroad,” she says. “I’d already seen girls sharing their UK thrift trips on YouTube, so I felt prepared. While I miss my Lagos spots sometimes, I enjoy the organisation and calm of thrift shopping here more.”
Retail therapy, but make it sustainable
Thrift shopping abroad is less of a checklist and more of a ritual for Ifeoma, a joyful and spontaneous one. “I’m always with the vibes!” she laughs. “Thrifting is therapeutic. I’m a retail therapy girl, so I just waltz into the shops and enjoy the thrill of skimming through all the racks looking for what I’d fall in love with.”
While the spontaneity is high, there’s a method behind the magic. “I do this while having a mental note at the back of my mind of the things I need in my wardrobe or house,” she explains. “That way, I don’t accumulate waste.” It’s the perfect balance between intuition and intention, making every piece feel personal and valuable.
With her years of thrift shopping experience, Ifeoma has a lot of favourite thrifted items. “It’s hard to think of one favourite thing I’ve purchased because I’ve been doing this for years. I’ve bought so many items, and I love everything I decide to take home with me.” Still, one recent find stands out. “This lamp I got off Facebook Marketplace has become a favourite. It’s beautiful and feels like such a lucky, intimate discovery.”
Her approach to balancing trend and timelessness is quite intuitive. “My rule is simple — I buy what I like,” she says firmly. “That’s my favourite thing about thrifting. It helps me stay true to what I really need or like. Most times, when things are trendy, you don’t necessarily find them in thrift stores anyway.” She’s selective; she always tries things on and only takes home the pieces that truly excite her.
Ifeoma also avoids buying items she can’t immediately see herself using. Case in point: “I recently found this red jacket but didn’t buy it because I wasn’t sure if it was real leather. Then I dreamt about it,” she says. “The following morning, I was one of the first people in the shop, so I could get it before someone else did.”
Whether it’s in Lagos or London, Ifeoma proves that thrift shopping is best enjoyed with heart, instinct, and a deep respect for the value of the pieces.
Read also: Florentina Agu’s guidelines and recommendations for sustainable fashion
Thrift shopping abroad, staying connected to home
Thrift shopping abroad hasn’t changed what it means to Ifeoma; it has simply deepened the connection. “It’s still a tradition,” she says. She inherited it from her mum and continues it today with a sharper awareness of the bigger picture. “It’s opened my mind to many environmental issues and concerns that the fashion industry causes,” she adds. “So, beyond being a tradition, thrifting is my way of reducing how much waste the fashion industry contributes to the environment.”
On whether there’s social pressure on African women abroad to only shop for new or luxury items, Ifeoma says, “This isn’t something that’s ever crossed my mind, or that I’ve heard people around me discuss.” She explains. “I don’t think it’s an expectation; there’s always been a thriving secondhand market in Africa, even before I was born.” It’s a cultural norm she carries proudly, without needing to justify or rebel against it.
In fact, her connection to thrifting has only grown stronger since relocating. “A lot of the brands you find in thrift shops here are the same Western brands we saw back home,” she says. “It feels familiar.” More than that, it keeps her bonded to her mum. “Being able to still go secondhand shopping here keeps the tradition alive, even though we’re several miles apart. Sometimes when I go shopping, I video call her and it’s like we’re doing it together.”
In the landscape of thrift shopping abroad, Ifeoma brings style, legacy and mindfulness. She reminds us that personal rituals, even ones as simple as bending down to search through clothes, can carry the weight of memory and love.
Ifeoma’s thrift shopping tips – Start slow, stay intentional
Ifeoma has some advice for African girls who want to explore thrift shopping abroad but feel overwhelmed: “First, if you feel overwhelmed, don’t do it,” she says. “Thrifting requires a lot of patience and time. You have to be into it to have a great experience.” Unlike fast fashion or scrolling through an online store, physical thrift shopping is a process that demands energy, curiosity, and an open mind.
Her second tip is to go alone. “That way, you don’t feel any pressure,” she explains. “You can go at your own pace, take your time to take in every detail and truly enjoy it.” Thrift shopping abroad is just as much about the experience as it is about the finds. Moving through it on your own terms can be both liberating and productive.
Finally, Ifeoma recommends having a plan, even if it’s loose. “Make a list. It could be physical or just a mental note like I do. That way, you know exactly what you’re looking for and you don’t get carried away.” It’s easy to get swept up in the thrill of low prices and unexpected finds, but a little intentionality keeps your wardrobe clutter-free.
If there’s one thing Ifeoma wishes she’d known earlier, it’s how addictive thrift shopping can be. “You have to be very intentional to avoid accumulating clutter just because the pieces are more affordable,” she says. “Trust me, it adds up quickly.” Whether you’re shopping for style, sustainability, or a sense of home, knowing when to pause is just as powerful as knowing when to buy.
Thrift shopping is not just “bend down select”
Thrift shopping abroad often feels breezy; clean, well-lit shops with curated racks, grouped by size or colour. Ifeoma, now based in London, is no stranger to the ease of it all. Compared to back home in Nigeria, where “bend down select” markets dominate and structure is rarely part of the experience, it feels almost therapeutic.
Back home in Nigeria, however, it’s often a different story. While the culture of secondhand shopping has always been strong, from “bend down select” markets to Instagram thrift pages, it’s rarely structured. Even when you enter the few physical shops we have, they’re not as organised. But while we dream of more organised secondhand spaces in Africa, it’s important to understand the cost behind creating them.
Running a thrift business in Nigeria is far from easy. As someone who ran one of the country’s earliest online thrift stores, I know how draining it can be. FX rates increase the cost of sourcing, market days mean hours of sorting through piles, and then there’s the work of dry cleaning, photography, staff salaries, and content creation.
Some online thrift prices may seem high, but perception plays a role too. People often believe pricier pieces must be more valuable. We’ve gone from looking down on thrifting to only valuing it when it seems luxurious or costs more than “bend down select”. That’s part of why some pieces are overpriced.
For those of us committed to the work, it wasn’t about upselling. It was about style, sustainability, and soul. The pressure to keep things “affordable” while covering costs in a tough economy is one reason I had to pause.
Still, my love for thrift runs deep. Whether or not I reopen my store, I’ll always believe in the beauty and sustainability of secondhand fashion. As more African women embrace thrift shopping abroad and at home, I hope we learn to appreciate the effort behind the racks and not just the price tag.
