The images of huge mountains of clothes being disposed of in Africa and the conditions in which fast fashion clothes are produced are making second-hand clothes increasingly popular. It makes a contribution to sustainability and is also an opportunity to buy some rarities. When it comes to vintage fashion, Vienna has numerous second-hand stores. One store in particular stands out: Flo Vintage. The store in the trendy Freihausviertel district has become a popular destination for nostalgic fashion lovers. Its range of around 5,000 items of clothing, from pearl-embroidered Art Nouveau and Charleston dresses to designer fashion from the 1980s, ensures this. This also makes Vintage Flo a sought-after outfitter for theater plays, film and television productions. Even top international designers find inspiration here – from Stella McCartney to Marc Jacobs.

Aside from clothing, Vienna’s Dorotheum auction house offers the opportunity to purchase rare treasures and bring home very special souvenirs from Vienna, from jewelry to paintings, from furniture to porcelain. The Dorotheum is the largest auction house in Central Europe and one of the leading auction houses in the world. It was founded in 1707 by Emperor Joseph I. Around 700 auctions in 40 categories take place every year. The highlight is four major international auction weeks with major auctions from the most important art and antiques sectors. The Dorotheum Jewelers and the Dorotheum Gallery also offer a wide range of items at fixed prices. In its auctions, the Dorotheum also regularly sells Austrian design pieces from the 1930s to 1950s (such as works by Roland Rainer and Carl Auböck) as well as classics of Viennese Modernism (such as works by Adolf Loos and Josef Hoffmann). The auction house is located in Vienna’s city center in the Palais Dorotheum, a magnificent neo-baroque building completed in 1901.

Shopping at carla, the second-hand stores run by the social aid organization Caritas, is easier on the wallet. Here you can buy inexpensive, eco-friendly and socially responsible items, but you can also donate well-preserved items in the spirit of the circular economy. The assortment ranges from clothing and furnishings to antiques and household goods. Anyone who comes here to browse will find collector’s items and support Caritas aid projects with every purchase. The carla location at Mittersteig 10 in the 5th district is particularly centrally located, and until October 25, 2024, there will also be a carla pop-up at Number 3 on the popular Mariahilfer Straße shopping mile, with a new carla location opening on Stephansplatz from November.

Eco-friendly & Viennese

Vienna prides itself on its efficient waste disposal. MA 48, the municipal department in charge of waste management and street cleaning, is responsible for this. MA 48 and its orange-clad waste collection staff are icons of the city. MA 48 also runs a second-hand market called 48er-Tandler. This store in the 5th district sells high-quality, functional second-hand goods – genuine bargains, cool vintage furniture, crockery, clothes, books, sports equipment and things you wouldn’t expect. The colorful selection comes from donations at Vienna’s garbage dumps, where 100,000 kilos of intact items are collected in the “Tandler Box” every month. This helps to reduce the amount of waste in Vienna.

Hotels going vintage

Some Viennese hotels are also going vintage and furnishing their rooms with second-hand furniture. The magdas Hotel Vienna City in the 3rd district is one that stands out here. A former priests’ residence from the 1960s was redesigned by the Vorarlberg artist and architect Daniel Büchel and the firm of architects BWM with a mix of new and old furnishings (in the spirit of recycling and upcycling). Old items of furniture are repaired and given a new lease of life or repurposed. The Social Business Hotel employs people with a migration background and helps them to learn a profession and settle in Vienna.

The Hotel am Brillantengrund in the 7th district is also outfitted with vintage furniture. All the rooms are designed differently and are a true journey through time from the 1950s to the 1970s. The small hotel with its 34 rooms has a very distinctive charm and is particularly popular in the art and design scene. The flower-lined inner courtyard also brings the Fifties back to life.

Addresses:

• Flo Vintage, Schleifmühlgasse 15a, 1040 Wien www.flovintage.com
• Dorotheum, Dorotheergasse 17, 1010 Wien www.dorotheum.com
• carla, Mittersteig 10, 1050 Wien & carla Pop-Up, Mariahilfer Straße 3, 1060 Wien, for more locations in Vienna visit www.carla-wien.at
• 48er-Tandler, Siebenbrunnenfeldgasse 3, 1050 Wien https://48ertandler.wien.gv.at
• Magdas Hotel Vienna City, Ungargasse 38, 1030 Wien https://magdas-hotel.at
• Hotel am Brillantengrund, Bandgasse 4, 1070 Wien www.brillantengrund.com

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Helena Steinhart
Media Relations
+43 1 211 14-364
helena.steinhart@vienna.info