Encore Designer Fashion Recycle

First impressions — hey this is great ! A thorough look through and sadly nothing for me on this auspicious Saturday in Spring .
But hey that’s not to mean someone won’t be dropping of that wish dress or unwanted Marc Jacobs bag? Will they ?
I love the idea of clothes recycling at the end of day everybody wins, Stores get money, people dropping off clothing maybe get a small percentage and if the store has a heart they take leftovers to the city mission so a homeless soul can get kitted out in a Versace jacket !
#winning

‘Encore’ is a designer recycle (high-​end) boutique located in Three Lamps, Ponsonby. I have been acquainting this shop with my unwanted designer clothing for some 5 years or more. Recently they moved out of their smaller shop (a few doors down) to the new improved bigger space which seems more commercial than the previous shop — not a bad thing nonetheless. I have always been happy with the customer service, prices that my clothing sold for & I continue to be loyal. Great place to buy or sell women’s clothing. They stock everything from Gucci to Sass & Bide to Zambesi (global & NZ brands). Good place to Unilocal about!

If you want funky fashion thats affordable then this is a place to go. My friend and I walked past here a few years ago and have been going back to get bits and bobs ever since.
Second hand items that are well looked after and well maintained, they have good brands and a good selection. The prices are reasonable and its easy to find some awesome buys.
There is an awesome 21dollar rack where you can find some great little deals
Bright and light fitting rooms, with loads of space for taking multiple items in with you.
The sales staff are lovely and very helpful.

Finally, I’ve discovered a second-​hand clothing boutique actually worthy of the title ‘Boutique.’ Encore is everything you want it to be: an absolute treasure trove of used designer clothes, well priced and well ordered. What separates this store from the others such as Recycle Boutique and Finders Keepers is that they actually make it feel boutiquey rather than op-​shoppy in there. This means luxurious Laura Ashley-​papered walls, funky lighting and spacious changing rooms and staff who can help you pick out outfits and advise you on almost anything in the store.
The brands they sell can be anything from Vivienne Westwood to Kiwi favourites Karen Walker and Zambesi, all at massively discounted prices. Of course, you’re still going to be paying more for the privilege of owning these items than you’d pay for lesser quality items in a chain store, but what you’ll get in return are pieces that will last you a lifetime… or indeed items you’d probably be able to resell again for a tidy profit.

As op shops go this one is one of a kind. This isn’t the place to go if you’re looking for something you can buy with that last couple of dollars floating in the bottom of your bag. The clothes are of serious quality with most repping some well known labels. Because of this, prices can get up in the hundreds of dollars but considering the garments you get it really still is a bargain. I tend to head to the trusty $ 21 rack where you’re bound to find something worth taking home! As with all second hand shops there is some trash hidden amongst the treasure so be patient and be sure to sift through all the racks! The ladies here are wonderful and friendly and won’t hesitate to help you find an outfit or pair together some garments. The spacious changing rooms make for a good experience too, giving you the chance to twirl around and make sure you look fabulous before whipping out the wallet!

Daughter wants Docs and has just got into vintage shopping so off we head to Encore on Ponsonby Road to browse through the well-​stocked shelves. On this day they had the Doc Martins, but alas they were the wrong size. We tried on a few things and settled on a cool t-​shirt, but daughter decided it was a bit pricey for her vintage budget after all. From the mum’s point of view, there is plenty of sophisticated choice on offer for us too and whether it is a work outfit or a little number for an upcoming special occasion, chances are you may find it at Encore, for a fraction of the full price. They are happy to take your quality pre-​loved garments to sell on behalf too.