A new up and coming thrift store will soon be added to Oxford’s must-shop list. Uptown Threads is a local thrift store which hopes to make a large impact within the community.
Thread Up Oxford is a local organization that intends to reduce textile waste in the Oxford community. Thread Up Oxford has two different retail locations, the newest being Uptown Threads located on West Church Street. With this new location, Thread Up Oxford hopes to attract the Uptown student crowd and bring more attention to their sustainability project. Since Jan. 1, Thread Up Oxford has received more than 12 tons of material.
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The shop’s creative reuse space provides second-hand yarn, textiles, and fabrics to shoppers.
Uptown Threads initially opened its doors in September 2023, and has seen a slow, consistent growth in sales since then. At Uptown Threads, buyers will be able to find both upcycled clothing and home textiles readily available for purchase.
Textile donations are accepted at the Thread Up Oxford location, in stores like Uptown Threads, as well as receptacles when the stores are closed. Supporters are also able to monetarily donate through Thread Up Oxford’s Square Donation Site, ranging from $10 to $100 gifts.
The bustling new store is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. Though the store is closed on weekends, that has not stopped a plethora of buyers from strolling through the shop.
Shopping at thrift stores, or “thrifting” is a huge part of fashion for many. First-year fashion student Lexie Newman said that thrifting “allows you to have unique pieces that nobody else has.” Not only is thrifting a sustainable alternative to fast fashion, but it also allows you to show individuality and explore interesting new looks.
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Thread Up, Oxford accepts clothing and textile donations from community members.
Thread Up Oxford hopes to become a model for communities all over the country. “[Thread Up Oxford] could be a model for how people can reduce textile waste in their own communities, and how they can circulate those second hand textiles more efficiently,” founder and executive director Shana Rosenberg said.
Though there are many well-sourced thrift stores in Oxford, Thread Up Oxford stands out among its many competitors as it accepts almost everything that is donated and works to repurpose every textile that they obtain.
“We don’t throw anything away, and we also don’t send anything overseas,” Rosenberg said. Many students donate clothing and home textiles after graduating, so thrifting is a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to first-source shopping.
