With fast fashion soon tossed to the trash, and affordable living thrown to the lions, the question is: what to wear? Good news. Cool couture has not resigned. It’s consigned. Around the world. And right here at home.

In the East Kootenay, where mega-malls are mercifully absent, style is a unique affair. Without the low-hanging fruit of Aritzia or American Eagle to drive sartorial sameness, shoppers in the East Kootenay often rely on indie boutiques as well as, increasingly, consignment and thrift stores to find clothes that have been discovered, reimagined, and given a second chance to shine.

While an obsession with the hunt for old things isn’t new, second-hand fashion has moved from niche hobby to global movement. According to the 2025 resale report from ThredUp — widely cited by publications including Forbes — 58 per cent of consumers shopped for second-hand clothing in 2024, and the global resale market is projected to reach $367 billion by 2029.

That shift isn’t only about saving money, or finding something unique. It’s also a response to the staggering cost of fast fashion, an industry responsible for roughly 10 per cent of global carbon emissions and a throwaway cycle in which the average garment is worn only seven to ten times before being discarded.

This part of the world is home to more than its fair share of consignment clothing stores, each as distinctive as its shopkeeper. One proprietor thrives on the thrill of discovering hidden gems; another curates with a sharp eye for fabric and silhouette; yet another specializes in niche aesthetics, focusing on decades, moods, or particular labels. Meanwhile, the unofficial IKEA of consignment stores embraces joyful unpredictability: find a 1960s silk blouse in one room, and a pair of perfectly beat-up Levi’s in another.

What unites these stores is not sameness, but philosophy. Each believes in the beauty of second lives. A dress that once danced at a wedding; a blazer that powered through boardrooms; a sweater that warmed countless winters. Here, they are not relics, they are possibilities.

These boutiques invite us to slow down. To browse thoughtfully. To imagine the new version of ourselves we might unlock in an old piece of clothing.

Trench photographer Nicole LeClair celebrates that spirit in her portraits of five distinct visionaries in their five distinct spaces — bonded by their shared conviction that exceptional style doesn’t end with an outfit’s first owner.

BIRD’S EYE BOUTIQUE, Jessica Fry Model (left) | CLOSET 31, Lauren Gramm Model (middle) | MY BEST FRIEND’S CLOSET, Dustin Mousseau Model (right)

Chupacabra Collective

Tucked into Kimberley’s colourful Howard Street, Chupacabra Collective is not only a singular boutique, but a working ecosystem. Founded by Chelsie McCurdie — who has been sewing since she was eight — the space grew out of her lifelong instinct to make what she couldn’t find.

“I started making my own clothes because nothing felt quite like how I wanted to express myself,” she says.

McCurdie opened her first storefront in 2012. It was built around her upcycled designs, including jackets, hoodies, and overalls cut from vintage textiles like quilts and curtains.

Today, Chupacabra Collective houses more than 40 creators and collectors — each running their own micro-business under one roof. It’s a deliberately different model that marries retail with community, where creativity is shared and discovering eclectic style is a one-stop-shop.

CHUPACABRA COLLECTIVE — Chelsie McCurdie Owner (left), Thedy Tirthadi Model (right)

Worthy

In Golden, where performance fleece tends to dominate, Worthy feels like a quiet rebellion. Owner Tracy Mihajic — who studied fashion design at Victoria’s Pacific Design Academy — has created a consignment store that leans into texture, individuality, and a strong sense of style. Here, vintage denim, linen, silk, and one-off pieces from a roster of more than 900 consignees, give even the most outdoorsy locals opportunity to stand out.

Opened in 2018, Worthy packs a dynamic selection of clothing into its vibey, narrow shop, with Mihajic filling in any sartorial or size gaps with her own buying trips. She’s frequently counted on to provide personal styling advice from regulars who, she says, “bring in pieces from their own closet and ask, ‘what can I wear with this?’” Mihajic’s eye for beauty and detail is both timeless and unexpected; her shop is all that and more.

WORTHY — Tracy Mihajic Owner (left), Suzanne Cooper Model (right)

Closet 31

Closet 31 in downtown Cranbrook is run by mother-daughter team Andrea and Lauren Gramm who transformed a long-standing consignment business into something distinctly chic, complete with exposed 1950s hardwood floors, damask wallpaper, and a sparkling chandelier overhead.

Their goal was simple: elevate the experience. Today the racks hold carefully selected designer labels: think Prada, Coach, and Fluevog, alongside lesser-known luxury finds waiting to be discovered. “People often can’t tell if an item is consignment or new,” says Andrea. “We take that as a compliment. We’re proud to be picky.”

With more than 800 consignors and strict standards (no worn shoes or overstuffed drop-offs), the shop maintains a clean, curated feel that draws fashion lovers who enjoy the thrill of uncovering high-end pieces at unexpected prices. It’s a place where the hunt is refined — and the window displays are as irresistible as what’s inside.

CLOSET 31 — Andrea Gramm Owner (left), Lauren Gramm Owner/Model (right)

Bird’s Eye Boutique

At Bird’s Eye Boutique, fashion feels less like dressing up and more like stepping into a mood. The shop’s racks lean toward a “soft and romantic” sensibility with flowy fabrics, lace, colour, and pattern that echo somewhere between Coachella ease and Gold Coast beach energy. Owner Tara Morgan has been thrifting since she was a teenager, recalling the moment it all clicked: “I bought my prom dress at a thrift store for $6 … this beautiful mermaid satin gown,” she says. “All my friends were buying $500 dresses.” Today, her store channels that same thrill of discovery. “If we see something and we’re like, ‘yes, this is exciting’ — that’s what makes it onto the racks.”

BIRD’S EYE BOUTIQUE — Tara Morgan Owner (left), Jessica Fry Model (right)

My Best Friend’s Closet

Kimberley’s 8,000-square-foot shop My Best Friend’s Closet feels almost like a mini department store, with nine themed rooms devoted to everything from denim to dresses, menswear to plus sizes. The effect is abundance without chaos. Owner Kaylyn TK says customers often describe the store as “the IKEA of consignment stores,” where each room helps shoppers know exactly what they’re looking for while still leaving room for discovery.

Their Cranbrook location offers a different but complementary experience. More streamlined and focused on women’s fashion, it highlights distinctive brands from outside the region, pieces brought in by consignors visiting from cities like Calgary, Vancouver, and Montreal. In a smaller centre, that matters: shoppers know they’ll find something unique. Together, the two locations balance organization with the thrill of the hunt, powered by thousands of consignors and a lively, theatre-loving team that keeps the racks, and the energy, constantly turning over.

Kaylyn & Tylene_My Best Friend's Closet.jpg

MY BEST FRIEND’S CLOSET — Kaylyn TK Owner and Tylene Turner (left), Emily-Ann Perry Model (right)

~ Written by Jacquie Moore

~ Photography by Nicole Leclair

Find this full-length story and more in The Trench’s Spring/Summer 2026 edition:

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