Shopping second-hand has become more and more popular in recent years as a way to save money, reduce the waste from fast fashion, and find unique treasures.
In contemporary France, a friperie is is a thrift shop or second-hand shop (the word used to be used in English as well, though it has fallen out of use). Friperies can be run by charities or for profit, but they all sell second-hand clothing at a reduced price. The most popular area in Paris to find friperies is in the Marais, mostly on rue de la Verrerie, but these are often crowded and can be more expensive.
We’ve put together a short list of our favourite spots to find a deal. The friperies listed here have multiple locations around Paris but we’ve identified the location with the best selection and value for money.
Emmaüs Defi – Riquet
By far the best friperie in Paris, the Riquet location of Emmaüs Defi has over 1000 m² of not just clothes but also books, homewares, furniture, and sports equipment. Hardback coffee table books for 4€, real leather boots for 10€ and winter coats for less than 30€. If you’re looking to update your wardrobe as the weather gets cooler, this is the place to go.
You can also check out the other Emmaüs locations across Paris, including the brand new Emmaüs Campus at Césure.
Kilo Shop Saint Germain. Irene on the Scene.
Kilo Shop – Saint Germain
There is a growing number of Kilo shops around Paris. These shops price their clothes by weight and often have a colour coded system of how much an item will cost per kilo. Items by with a red label are the cheapest at 20€ per kilo, all the way to orange labelled items at 60€ per kilo. The Saint Germain location tends to be quieter and is a great place to hunt for knitwear or shirts.
Guerrisol. Sur la 2.
Guerrisol – Avenue d’Italie
The Guerrisol one of the cheapest thrift shops in Paris and the one on Avenue d’Italie is known for having a good range of menswear items as well as winter coats. Be prepared to hunt through the many, many racks of items for your perfect find, as it is a large store. While you’re in the neighbourhood check out some other things to do in the 13th Arrondissement in this article.
BIS Boutique Solidaire on Boulevard du Temple. Paris So Biotiful.
BIS Boutique Solidaire – Boulevard du Temple
This charity shop focusses usually on higher quality clothes, which means slightly higher prices. However their selection is so good we couldn’t leave it off this list. If you want a more curated thrifting experience that still supports a charitable cause then the BIS Boutique Solidaire is the one for you.
Vinted App. Madame Figaro.
Online Alternatives
We also have a couple of suggestions for those who prefer shopping online from the comfort of their own home. The Vinted app is a popular clothing resale app on which you can find items for every budget and taste from well known designers to vintage bargains.
Although Facebook marketplace is not as popular in Paris as in other place, there are a number of Facebook groups for buying and selling second-hand clothes e.g. Women in Paris Swap and Shop.
Imparfaite caters more to the vintage market but has a range of quality items and often collaborates with French brands to sell their archival pieces for reduced prices. A few time a year they hold in-person vintage sales in Paris, so keep an eye on their Instagram for the next one.
Top image source: Les Echos