Inspired by the Retail Rewired team’s recent trip to New York, our new ‘Store Spotlight’ series profiles some of the best examples of global bricks-and-mortar retail which have turned our heads.

Whether it’s trail-blazing use of in-store tech, immersive brand experience, new store formats or concepts – or just retailers daring to be different – we’ll be profiling the stores which catch our eye, starting with Other People’s Clothes in NYC.

Other People’s Clothes (Union Sq / 4th Ave)

Buy-sell-trade thrift retailer, Other People’s Clothes (OPC), made its big move to Manhattan with its Union Square location at the end of August 2025.

Union Square is OPC’s fourth store, having started its first thrift retail concept store in Queens and later in Brooklyn’s Bushwick and Williamsburg.

More than ‘in-store Vinted’

You’d be mistaken for thinking OPC is just an in-store version of Vinted or a glorified charity shop or dress agency. Far from it.

OPC leans into curating unique and eclectic pre-loved picks that ‘tell a story’ and stand out, meaning every item is a statement piece.

This helps to keep its retro collections feeling edited, in vogue and very much grounded in local, NYC style.

How does it work?

OPC picks its second-hand clothing from customer donations. Shoppers are allowed to bring in no more than 2 Ikea bags of clothes each day to the store, which are then assessed and approved for sale by the in-store ‘buyers’. They focus on selecting items based on quality, style and seasonality – as well as what the store’s inventory requires.

Customers receive a 50% store credit on the value of the products that make the cut for sale or, if they want cash, they can received 30% of the RRP of each item. Customers can collect any unchosen items at the end of the day, with any uncollected items donated, helping further circularity.

Why did we love it?

OPC is achingly Alpha / young Gen Z – and we expect is massively ticking their boxes for thrift, sustainable consumption, IRL product discovery and third-space hang-outs – however it still felt accessible.

And, while the concept of pre-loved isn’t ‘new’ in itself, the curation at OPC sets it a part and gives the store a real sense of place – its retro vibes were giving big time nostalgia, Big Apple style.