Chua has had similar experiences. “All my pieces came in great condition, except sometimes they don’t fit me,” she said.
This is less of an issue for physical shops like Woofie, where customers can try before buying, but Tan acknowledges that for their curated Telegram pieces, buyers have to trust the listing photos and descriptions – which is why they only put more premium pieces on the platform. “It justifies the time and effort we spend on photography and measurements,” he explained.
Owner of D’s Closet, Tam, has also shifted more towards in-person sales. “When I started university last year, I began consigning at physical stores as it’s less intensive than online drops,” she said.
“For physical pop-ups and events, which is what I mainly do now, I take pictures of what I’ll be bringing and post on Telegram, TikTok and Instagram to let my followers know. I also tag each item with my own price tag, and spend weekends restocking at the shops I consign at.”
THE FUTURE OF TELEGRAM THRIFTING
Most sellers and buyers agree the number of Telegram thrift channels has surged in the past two years. “When I started in 2023, the norm was to sell on Instagram,” noted Tam. “Now, it has shifted to Telegram.”
Chan believes the trend has staying power: “I feel like Telegram thrifting is here to stay, considering how the main messaging app for most youths these days is Telegram, and how the app allows for way more functions than just messaging, I think it will only get bigger.”
However, she doesn’t see it completely replacing traditional thrifting: “Being able to try how things fit in person will be something that online shopping can never replace, and the thrill of having gotten something amazing in person after scouring through tons of secondhand clothes really does make me very happy.”
As Singapore’s secondhand fashion scene continues to evolve, Telegram has carved out a unique niche that combines the convenience of online shopping with the personal touch of community-driven curation. For young sellers and buyers alike, it represents not just a marketplace, but a new way of connecting over shared style sensibilities – one drop at a time.
