Thrift on Wheels – Giving Preloved Items a Second Chance

Image credit: Thrift on Wheels

Many women turn to shopping with the purpose of improving their mood in times of stress and disposition. However, the satisfaction of retail therapy sessions are often short lived and women are soon left with the realisation of apparel or merchandise taking up space in their wardrobe. There is beauty in everything, including preloved items and one man’s meat is often another man’s poison. Thrift on Wheels is here to make the most out of clothing that are no longer loved.


What is Thrift on Wheels?

Thrift On Wheels is the first mobile boutique in Asia and the first ever brand/company in Malaysia that buys unwanted clothing directly from consumer’s closets. They are the first and only brand that helps Malaysians to clear out their house, and even pay them for it! Thrift on Wheels provide reselling, up-cycling and donation channels for unwanted clothing that will otherwise be “stuck” in Malaysian households. Their business concept revolves around idea of lessening the impact of fashion consumption on the environment.

Image credit: Thrift on Wheels
Image credit: Thrift on Wheels

The Conception of Thrift on Wheels

The founders  used to be fashion hoarders and used to love shopping at the malls and ended up with way too many clothes that they no longer fit or want. When they found out about the devastating effects of fashion consumption on the society and the environment, particularly the amount of waste generated from our fashion choices and the low wages paid to the workers, they immediately turned into thrifts and have since only been wearing used clothing. “A couple of years down the road, our friends and family were impressed at how much we save and how our fashion sense has developed since we started thrifting. We then started Thrift On Wheels to educate other fashion consumers on the benefits of extending clothing use to their wallet and also to mother earth.”, the founders tell TallyPress.

Image credit: www.twitter.com/ThriftOnWheels
Image credit: www.twitter.com/ThriftOnWheels

The Founders of Thrift on Wheels

Thrift On Wheels is founded by two sisters, Syakirin and Athirah Rosik. They started in December 2014 but the first few months were focused on business development and market research. Our active months started in September 2015, when we moved to The Thrift House. Athirah has been involved in business operations with some of biggest names in food and beverage, and hotel management industry. Syakirin came from a technical background. Prior to Thrift On Wheels, she was a registered engineer and was undergoing her postgraduate research in Physics.

Image credit: Thrift on Wheels
Image credit: Thrift on Wheels

The Thrift on Wheels Philosophy

With Thrift On Wheels, they are focusing on educating young consumers on the consequences of their fashion choices. Not only that, they provide an affordable channel for fashion enthusiasts. At Thrift On Wheels, fashionistas are able to get fashionable and stylish pieces for much lower prices than it’s retail value. The products at Thrift On Wheels ranges from higher end brands to locally made items and everything is priced under RM50. This means that a shopper can easily get a good quality, gently‐used dress by H&M for RM20 or a Levi’s jeans for RM45. They take quality control very seriously and all items goes through their strict sorting process, which is absent in all the other secondhand marketplace. They are also the only platform that guarantees all items are priced accordingly and is affordable to all.

Image credit: Thrift on Wheels
Image credit: Thrift on Wheels

The Future for Thrift on Wheels

Thrift on Wheels are currently developing an e‐commerce site, as demanded by their customers. They plan to grow this business regionally, and in the next 5 years, they hope to expand into other countries. They are very proud to be directly involved in some of the movement for social change and are pleased to donate countless items to those who really needs it the most such as the homeless, refugees communities and schools all around Klang Valley. They been approached for funding options by a few interested parties, which validates the business concept.

Image credit: Thrift on Wheels
Image credit: Thrift on Wheels

We believe that frugality should always be celebrated, and in this trying economy, it is definitely the smarter choice. We believe fashion consumers have a voice, and smart fashion choices could change how fashion industry has always been run.

— Syakirin and Athirah Rosik


Find out more about Thrift on Wheels below:

Website: http://thriftonwheels.com/

Facebook: Thrift on Wheels

Instagram: Thrift on Wheels