High fashion, low price: Tips on Second Hand shopping in Perugia
An opinion piece by Sofia Abategiovanni
Spring 26 Student
Università per Stranieri di Perugia
The first experience of buying clothes at a secondhand market is unforgettable. Purchasing “recycled fashion” benefits the environment and uplifts the spirit, giving a second life to peculiar items with their own stories. Usually these clothes feature vivid patterns, unique styles and references to past decades and fashions that can and are coming back. If you are looking for a wardrobe that reflects your personality and screams Italian good-taste culture, I will take you on a journey to discover secret places hidden within Perugia’s beautiful medieval walls, in search of creativity and sustainability.
Vintage in the Historic City Center
Revibë Store─ Via Alessi no.6
The first tip you should follow is to go to Via Alessi no.6 to the brand-new Revibë store.
This secondhand shop was opened by Red, a young student from Bologna who moved to Perugia to study at the Academy of Fine Arts.
Here, Red’s passion for fashion perfectly combines with love for reuse, which transforms into care and affection through the careful selection of clothes from private owners.
The shop’s decor reflects Red’s personal taste and will transport you straight into the ‘80s and ‘90s.
You can find anything in his lovely shop, from elegant clothes —thanks to brands like Fendi— to beloved streetwear on the second floor of the building.
Inside this cozy space, you can find a wide range of pieces, with honest and student-friendly prices, it’s the perfect place to discover unique clothes with their own story.
Paleos Vintage & Second Hand─ Via Guglielmo Oberdan no.49
Going down to Via Guglielmo Oberdan 49, you will find the ultimate vintage and secondhand shop in Perugia, Paleos Vintage & Second Hand, run by the lovely Greek Mrs. Eleni and her son Alexandros.
The shop was born from Eleni’s passion for vintage markets and her desire to give beautiful clothes a second life.
If you are looking for something truly distinctive, this shop is definitely worth a visit: the owners personally select the clothes, entirely made of natural fabrics, that best communicate this quality, from fabric to cut to the most particular stitching.
Madame Dorè Boutique─ Corso Cavour no. 50/a
Just a few steps from the Sant’Ercolano staircase, Madame Dorè Boutique welcomes its guests in a sophisticated lounge that will make you feel like you’re on the Bridgerton’s set.
Every detail, from the delicate scent that envelops the space to the warm, soft lighting, among the antique pink wallpaper, retro-framed mirrors, the soft carpet, and the comfortable sofa, contributes to creating a place where fashion becomes an intimate and refined experience.
Let yourself be guided by Giulia, the owner of Perugia’s timeless boutique, through colorful clothes, balancing quality, uniqueness, and sustainability, with prices reflecting the authentic value of each piece, promoting conscious consumption and circular fashion of high-quality clothes and artisanal items.
Perugia’s Saturday Thrift Market
If you are a lover of challenges and great deals, the stop you absolutely cannot miss is the Saturday Market at Pian di Massiano, the temple of thrifting in Perugia. Easily reachable by the legendary Minimetrò, without traffic and very fast, it takes only 12 minutes to cross seven stops (Pian di Massiano is, in fact, the seventh). The Minimetrò is the best friend of Perugia’s students, as well as a true cultural and identity symbol for the citizens who live in this city (for the ones who still don’t know it, I’ll leave you links to a Minimetrò guide written by previous students, don’t worry about it!).
A tip: going early is the wisest choice to secure the most “in” clothes of the week. It’s full of determined people trying to grab, among piles of secondhand clothes, the highest quality items at mind-blowing prices, often ranging between 1 and 5 euros.
Charity and Ethical Fashion
If, besides environmental sustainability, social justice is also close to your heart, you might want to check out the Charity Shop of the non-profit organization Italian Red Cross (CRI), located at Via Luigi Bonazzi no. 1. A brief clarification: from its motto, “An Italy that helps,” we can understand its main mission. The CRI is dedicated to helping people in emergency situations, such as natural disasters, health crises, or conflicts, offering medical assistance, rescue, and social support.
Here, an exhibition of donated clothes is organized by the CRI Perugia Committee to raise funds and financing aimed at social projects for vulnerable people.
Choosing to buy clothes from this shop therefore becomes a meaningful way to contribute concretely to community welfare.
Opening Hours, Charity Shop Perugia – Croce Rossa Italiana“ | Via Luigi Bonazzi
Designer Labels in Secondhand
If you are looking for high quality and elevated clothes, you must pay a visit to the Mercatino di Perugia in Via dei Filosofi 76/n: Here you’ll find secondhand designer clothes at affordable prices and great condition—from Brunello Cucinelli to Luisa Spagnoli. Although time wears out natural fabrics, higher quality grants better result than vast fashion over time
Check out Mercatino Perugia
Why Choose Secondhand?
If you’re still not convinced secondhand is the way to go, let me walk you through a few good reasons for going sustainable
- The quality is better: Secondhand clothes from vintage boutiques are often made of better fabrics such as cotton, wool, and even silk, at competitive prices;
- You are doing the right thing: The planet will definitely thank you, as pre-owned clothing has an environmental impact up to 70 times lower than new clothing, according to a study conducted by EuRIC;
- Your outfit becomes unique: Unleash your creativity by inventing a look that truly expresses your identity, bringing home a piece of Italy, like a true perugino!
You will definitely find these websites useful to explore “fashionable Perugia”: