By Laura Miklowitz

When some people think of used clothing, images of trash bags and mismatched hangers dance in their heads. But consignment stores are often more akin to boutiques than thrift stores, with attractive displays of eclectic (and sometimes brand new) items that can be purchased at lower prices, but not necessarily cheaply. In our neck of the fashion woods, Constance Consignment and Hip Replacements style themselves after high-end big-city specialty shops. Elite Repeats and Clothes Encounters are the go-to spots for wedding and prom garb. Rags Reborn Eco Chic Boutique has a strong focus on handmade items. Each store has a definitive slant.
Everyone loves a bargain, but it’s not just the savings we seek. With consignment shopping, it’s the thrill of the hunt. You can find anything from perfectly faded jeans to the perfect little black dress to your wedding gown and maternity wear. In an ultimate act of recycling, some savvy shoppers buy, wear and sell back clothing seasonally.

If you’re looking to turn clothes into cash, here’s the deal with most consignment stores: you bring in clean, “gently used” garments and the store resells them and splits the profit with you. (There are some variations; at Hip Replacements, for example, you can choose to trade in your vintage hipster pieces for store credit.) It’s best to call first and get the specifics at each store.

Talk about great finds: at Enchanted Forrest’s Merrimon Avenue shop, Forrest Hogestad found $260 stashed in the toe of a hiking boot. The original owner, by then happily married, was astonished to receive the forgotten cash, once intended as a payment on an engagement ring. And Angie Heidenreich, owner of Lulu’s Consignment Boutique, once found a wedding band in an old purse and returned it to the rightful owner, a bereaved widow who thought she had lost her husband’s ring forever.

Since there’s usually only one of everything at consignment stores, the competition can be fierce. At Etc. Consignment Shoppe, owner Stephanie Tryon once had to play Solomon to two women ready to start throwing punches over a quilted patchwork coat. But what goes around usually comes around. A woman who shared a love of shoes with her mother-in-law found a pair of fabulous heels at Clothes Encounters and took a cell phone photo on the spot. It turned out her mother-in-law had brought them in for resale.

Sometimes, clothing at consignment shops gets repurposed in remarkable ways. At Two Chicks, partner Beverly Satterfield honors her late sister-in-law by creating “Sweet Billie” bags from old sweaters and clothing. Other heartwarming stories abound. At Elite Repeats, owner Tiffany Ervin makes house calls to help widowers pass along their wives’ wardrobes, sorting items for resale and donation and even providing tax receipts. At Excellent Seconds, owner Tammi Michael’s favorite customer was a spunky but slow-moving elderly woman who loved to visit the store. It took the woman so long to get out of the car that Michael, who could see her coming, had time to collect items in her size, move them to the bargain rack and set up a chair nearby—all before the woman entered the store.

Ever wonder what happens to the things that don’t sell? You often have the option of retrieving your items, but generally they get donated. You might even see your favorite old purple chenille sweater again at a local thrift shop if, amazingly, no one bought it. All the stores we contacted make regular contributions to good causes, including women’s programs and thrift shops. Some provide for families in need. Isadora’s Closet supports Second Chance, which raises money to end domestic violence. On the coldest winter nights, Serendipity owner Dena Baysden warmly distributes coats to the homeless in Pritchard Park.
If you haven’t shopped consignment stores, treasures await. And if your closet is bulging with past purchases, consider becoming a consignee. You might just make some money, make someone happy and do your community some good. 

RESALE ROUNDUP
Our picks, from ‘60s vintage to modern classics to high-end designer threads.

Beehive
449 N. Main St., Hendersonville
828-692-8882
Casual to formal clothing and accessories, plus furs and new designer stock at markdown prices. $4 to $7,000

Clothes Encounters
340 Merrimon Ave., Asheville
828-251-5651
Designer dresses and shoes, wedding and formal wear, and high-end casual and professional clothing for women. $5 to $500

Constance
Consignment
100 Julian Lane, Arden
828-650-6566
Gently worn and new high-end clothing and accessories for women, plus new designer stock at markdown prices. $14 to $1,100

Elite Repeats
178 Four Seasons Mall, Hendersonville
828-696-2262
High-end designer women’s clothing and accessories and used and new bridal and formal wear. $5 to $1,300

Enchanted Forrest
235 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 
828-236-0688
1950 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville  828-684-7767
Clothing and accessories for artsy, creative women, plus accessories and vintage garb. $5 to $300

etc. Consignment Shoppe
1500 Patton Ave., Asheville
828-251-1160
Designer and everyday clothing for women, men and kids, plus household items. $3 to $400

Excellent Seconds
959 Merrimon Ave., Suite 4, Asheville
828-251-2332
High-end women’s modern apparel and accessories, from youthful to conservative to funky. $7 to $150

Hip Replacements
72 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville
828-255-7573
Eclectic vintage and new jeans and clothing for men and women, plus quirky accessories. $20 to $50
 
Isadora’s Closet
148 N. Trade St., Tryon
828-859-9581
Clothing for women, men and children, evening and wedding dresses, plus furniture. $3 to $200

Lulu’s Consignment Boutique
3461 Hendersonville Rd., Fletcher
828-687-7565
Clothing for women and kids, formal dresses and leather goods, plus furniture and housewares. 95 cents to $199

Rags Reborn Eco Chic Boutique
1 West Walnut St., Asheville
828-253-4488
Timeless to hip women’s new, used and vintage clothing, with emphasis on local artists and designers. $17 to $120

Serendipity: A
Consignment
Boutique
21 Long Shoals Rd., Arden
828-650-9409
Higher-end clothing for women, men and children, plus home décor and furniture. $5 to $100

Two Chicks
146 Third Ave. West, Hendersonville
828-692-0506
$5 to $150
Casual to formal women’s clothing, shoes, bags and accessories.