Thrifting in the Burrrgh: a sustainable winter fashion guide for Chatham students

Leyna Laurent

February 6, 2025

Clothes on a rack in a thrift store.

As many Yinzers, native Pennsylvanians or truly any Chatham University student would deem it, Pittsburgh Januaries are brutal. Subfreezing temperatures, the increased risk of illness and, of course, the importance of bundling up and layering clothes make themselves quite apparent.

Staying warm is key to trekking through a Pittsburgh winter, but this may lead to concerns with cost and sustainability. Here is a sampling of college student-friendly places to shop across Pittsburgh for alternatives to winter fast fashion that may help with saving money and reducing waste by shopping at a local vintage or thrift shop.

Chatham À La Mode’s Sustainable Fashion Fair

Chatham’s fashion club – Chatham À La Mode – will be hosting its first Sustainable Fashion Fair in two years. For an on-campus clothing swap-esque experience, the event will be held from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Feb. 7 in Mellon Board Room. Clothing donations will be collected through Jan. 31, as well as at the fair. For more information about the event, including donation drop-off locations, visit @Chatham.alamode on Instagram.

Red White and Blue Thrift Stores

890 Saw Mill Run Blvd., Brookline and 935 Ohio River Blvd., Avalon
11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Sundays

9 a.m. – 8 p.m. Mondays – Saturdays

Both Red White and Blue Thrift Store locations feature an expansive inventory of clothing, furniture, accessories and other items that arrive daily. Please note that only cash transactions are accepted here. (redwhiteandbluethriftstore.com)

Trader Jack’s Flea Market

999 Steen Road, Bridgeville

6 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturdays – Sundays

A mainstay in Bridgeville for more than 30 years, Trader Jack’s Flea Market includes both indoor and outdoor vendors, the latter changing on a weekly basis. (traderjacksfleamarkets.com)

Thriftsburgh

4024 O’Hara St., Oakland

10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Mondays – Thursdays

Thriftsburgh is the University of Pittsburgh’s on-campus student-run thrift store. For upcoming event information such as clothing drives, visit its Instagram page @Thriftsburgh.

Zeds

1931 E Carson St., South Side

Noon – 7 p.m. Tuesdays – Fridays

Noon- 5 p.m. Saturdays

Zeds is a boutique-style shop that offers a variety of vintage streetwear, predominantly specializing in ‘90s and 2000s fashion. Check out the online storefront at shopzeds.com.

About the Contributor

Leyna Laurent, Lifestyle Editor

Leyna Laurent ‘26 is a Communications major with a concentration in journalism. Originally from the South Hills of Pittsburgh, Leyna decided to transfer to Chatham from Coastal Carolina University after her first year, pursuing a more intimate and community-focused academic experience. Chatham University's proximity to home, inviting campus environment, and small-scale setting made it the perfect fit for her. Leyna is a contributing writer for the Communiqué, but outside of the newsroom, Leyna’s passions include indulging in a variety of music and film. Leyna can be reached at [email protected] or @leynalaurent via Instagram.