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Thrifting in Bloomington: Hidden Gems

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Alexis Fahey Student Contributor, Indiana University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at IU chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

One of Bloomingtons best-kept secrets is the amount of amazing thrift stores not even 20 minutes off campus! These stores have everything you need to stay stylish and sustainable.

1. Skullznbunniez
Skullznbunniez is a small business vintage shop located on the square, directly across from city hall. The store is only open on Friday’s and Saturday’s from 12-5 pm. The shop has a wide selection of vintage pieces ranging from denim to lingerie. The shop is also very size inclusive, and offers discounted bundle prices. If you cant make it on the weekend, the owner also hosts virtual live sales on the Skullsnbunniez instagram every Wednesday!

2. Hoosier A1 Vintage
Hoosier A1 Vintage is your place for all things vintage IU. The shop has items that range from IU hoodies to even IU leather jackets. The business is located on Kirkwood Avenue just seconds away from the sample gates. The coolest thing about this shop is that it is located in an outdoor alley way. While this is awesome in the warmer weather, it does mean shopping here is seasonal.

3. Tailored Thrifts
Tailored Thrifts is a vintage store curated for the Bloomington IT girls. The shop has a wide selection of peices ranging from luxury brands to IU merch. The shop is located on Washington street, near the CVS on kirkwood! This is a wonderful place to go if youre looking for unique accessories and antiques aswell! The shop has a range of items to fit every aesthetic.

4. The Cats Closet
The Cats Closet is one of the most unique thrift stores you may find in Bloom. The Cats Closet doubles as both a vintage thrift store and a Cat cafe style lounge. Each cat is also adoptable! The business loves to host events, and give student free opportunities to pop into the cat lounge. The shop itself has a wide variety of vintage clothing items that are to die for. This is a MUST shop location! The store can be found off of Pete Ellis Drive.

5.BYOB
Lastly, IU hosts its very own market. This market, Bring your own business, allows businesses to come together in one big event. The event typically happens every other week. In the warmer weather, the market takes place in Dunn meadow on campus. Many different vendors can be found here. Items like vintage clothing, IU merch, accessories, and even food items can be found here. This is definitely a thrift-loving IU students dream!

These are just five examples of all the amazing sustainable options Bloomington has to offer. There are so many unique places, and antique malls to explore. The thrift scene in Bloomington is genuinely out-of-this-world!

I am a first-year Journalism student at Indiana University Bloomington. My main concentration is news reporting and editing but Im also super interested in fashion journalism & media. I am expected to graduate in 2029. My main goal is to work for a major publication like the New York Times!
When it comes to my interests, I love all things fashion and beauty. I am also a huge movie, music, and book lover! :)