The Goodwill “Bins” on 30th Avenue, Oakland
Like many students deciding on colleges, I made a list of pros and cons over the summer to aid in the decision of where the next 4 years of my life would be spent. My list was probably typical, comparing the usual, the weather, the campus vibes, entertainment opportunities surrounding the campus, the student diversity, or internship opportunities. Then somewhere along writing this extensive list, I found myself listing the types of shoes students were wearing and how far the closest thrift store was.
While touring the well-known college town, Boston, I started to think that this might be the place for me. Feeling at home, I inadvertently pulled out my phone and started to type “thrift stores nearby” in the search box of Apple Maps. To my disappointment the only (yes, “only” as in one) orange dot that popped up was miles away. I obviously didn’t turn down Boston because there weren’t any thrift stores nearby or because every girl on campus seemed to only be wearing high top platform Converse. It definitely swayed my decision process. Even the girls who dared to venture out and bought high top platform Converse with flowers on them couldn’t convince me.
Luckily, I moved on and continued my college tours and landed at Berkeley. I didn’t know anything about Berkeley at the time. But feeling the downtown vibes, I purposely searched “thrift stores nearby” on Apple Maps. To my delight, I found orange dots scattered everywhere, including vintage stores down Telegraph and the Goodwill on University. It was off to a good start.
As I walked around campus in my black Demonia platform shoes, I subconsciously took note of all the different shoes I saw strutting down Sproul. While I did find some high-top Converse, I also found a range of untied boots, silly sandals, and colorful sneakers. Just as I didn’t choose Boston for their plethora
of platform Converse, I didn’t choose Berkeley for their assortment of footwear. I did however choose Berkeley because I went with my gut. Funny enough, my gut does often lead me to thrift stores, so I knew I made the right decision.
When I arrived here for my first week, I was so excited to explore my new home. Naturally, after doing some research I started to create a list of flea markets and thrift stores in the area. From Alameda to Laney to the So-So Market. To my surprise, my TikTok search led me to The Goodwill Bins on 30th Avenue, Oakland.
The first chance I had, I pulled out the clipper card and hopped on the R Bus from the Greek Theater which led me to the downtown BART station. A 45 minute travel time from my dorm to the bins never seemed so bad. Waiting on platform 2 for the yellow line towards Berryessa to arrive I put on my headphones and after a few good songs by The Backseat Lovers, I am at the Fruitvale exit.
Once you venture off to the bins, you have to walk a couple blocks along 12th street and this is the shortest part of the trip, yet it always feels the longest. I like to speed walk while holding my breath down this street- not for fun, but because you know, it’s Oakland. The stench that comes from this street always seems to get worse the more I went, but I eventually learned how to speed walk my way through, maxing at record speed so I could successfully do it in one breath.
When you make it to the corner, you are basically in the clear from the smell and the fear of being called “baby girl” from the eccentric man inside his trailer (this has happened only once during my experience). Congratulations, you are there, you have made it.
THE BINS
The bins are called the bins for its iconic blue bins filled with clothes that no one wanted. Piles of rejected clothes never looked so beautiful in my eyes. The bins are a land of the unknown, the warm sun beaming down making the mess turn into an even hotter mess. You can really find everything there, from some yummy used chapsticks to gigantic pants splattered with questionable stains. Right when you are about to lose all hope, somewhere between the dirty bras and beach towel, like a ray of light shining through the clouds, you spot the perfect y2k DKNY denim midi skirt in your size.
THE PEOPLE
To lay it out for you, the crowd of people you find at the bins can be described into a couple specific categories. There are the typical streetwear resellers (they wear Jordan’s and bring a chair), eBay moms (frizzy hair, Ikea bags, and will fold their clothes), families who are looking for inexpensive clothes (usually moms with their children), and then there’s the workers. Occasionally you’ll get people like me, the young female Berkeley student wearing their AirPod Maxes, tote bag, and mini-skirt.
The resellers are always first in the line and stay for multiple rounds. The eBay moms will try to cut in front of you in line and they eye every piece you hold, the kids will be playing with toy cars while you wait for the bins to be switched out, and the workers will yell at you to stop touching the bins and to check out when the round is over.
You end up meeting a lot of new people at the bins and if you go often, you’ll end up seeing the same people. The resellers go so often. They know everything there is to it, I look up to them and admire their hustle. They’ll compliment the Nike hoodie in your arms and ask if it’s a red tag to verify the authentic vintage appeal and then state the exact number of how much it’s worth.
I know I’m making everyone seem intimidating, but ultimately the bins are great in their own way. It’s what makes the bins, The Bins. What really matters and what makes it all worth it are the people and the clothes.
THE CLOTHES
Normally, I’ll stay for about two rounds because that’ll take about 3 hours for the entire trip from my dorm and back. With the limited time I have, I must use it wisely. When a new round starts and all the fresh bins sit quietly waiting for us to enter, suddenly, the playing field turns into a track field, and everyone runs in for the sprint. They all start strong, but eventually they tire out and that’s when it’s my turn. At this point everyone has already grabbed all the eye-catching clothes and started to sort through them. Discarded clothes get thrown back to the bins so I use the entire time to look through everything as clothes are still cycling through.
Sometimes when I’m lucky, other people will come up to me and offer me items they’ve found but didn’t want. One time this guy came up to me and handed me a white with green trim Patagonia jacket. He told me that he thought I might like it and before I could even unravel it to see what it was, he was already out of sight, digging through more stuff. I wanted to thank him because I was now a proud owner of a new snowboarding jacket for the upcoming season. It’s these sweet random interactions that you can only find at the bins.
Speaking of finds, I found a vintage brown bomber leather jacket that an eBay mom put back while she was checking out and once she saw me take the discarded piece, she knew she made a mistake. However, she told me that I’d look great in it and that she was happy it landed in my hands. I honestly find the best items when someone else picks something up and then passes it on. You know the saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. I think an exciting part of thrifting: everyone has a different style and what someone else may not like can be your absolute favorite.
THE WHY
Personally, I don’t go to the bins for the purpose of reselling them on Depop like most people there. I go to shop for myself and sometimes even for my friends. I believe that’s the best way to shop and good things will come because of that. I just have fun with it and it genuinely makes me happy that these pieces get to be loved by someone new. Thrifting gives you the ability to create a look that is distinctly you, each piece is something unique.
I am a firm believer in the bins and am dedicated to second hand shopping not only for the reasons that I love clothes and shopping but because it’s just a smart thing to do. You buy clothes by the pound. I have walked out with 24 items for a total of $16, that alone can buy you a pair of socks at Urban Outfitters. It’s also sustainable and good for the environment, who doesn’t love that? There are so many pieces of clothes circling out there in the world, so many old clothes are waiting to be rediscovered and loved by someone new.
Hopefully my insights have sold you on the bins because this is the place I go to to find my sense of style. My clothes and creativity with my outfits have given me confidence. I wear my clothes with pride. As silly as it may sound, my style helped me discover and find who I am in this world.
If you ever want to thrift together you know where to catch me, I’m the one not wearing high top platform converse xoxo!!!
