Tandem features local brands under BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or woman/non-binary owners, with sizes up to 3X, so everyone can learn to love secondhand shopping.

In the Twin Cities, vintage shop owners aren’t competing with each other. They’d rather support each other and lift each other up.

The whole world’s a stage, but for many it’s a runway. If you’re shopping with a more conscious mind, there’s a wonderful new shop in Kingfield, Minneapolis, to help you dress to impress this winter season.

This season, shape a wardrobe that is just as stylish as it is sustainable. Tandem Vintage is filled to the brim with one-of-kind timeless finds, including a wide array of clothing, accessories and home goods.

The queer-owned vintage shop opened its doors in the Kingfield neighborhood.

Beyond saving you a lot of money, when we decide to buy secondhand, we are saving discarded items from ending up in a landfill or our oceans. The fashion industry is responsible for 8-10% of global carbon emissions. By thrifting, we are making an effort to be more thoughtful about our environment.

Let’s face it: We’re in a time that was practically made for the phrase “All dressed up and no place to go.” Fortunately, local vintage shops are finding new ways to innovate despite the sartorial setback.

For some people, thrift stores can be overwhelming. I actually hear that a lot. For me, I walk in the door and leave the stress of bills, to-do lists, traffic, and chaos outside and find calm in the ordered aisles and the organization. It’s its own form of meditation. I focus on the patterns, colors, and textures right in front of me.

Thrifting 101 with the Twin Cities' best 'treasure' hunters

“Everything that people get rid of goes to thrift stores or goes in the garbage,” the founder of Tandem Vintage explains. “Unless there are people out there who are bringing that back into their homes and giving it a second life, it all ends up in the landfill.”

Feature in the Make MN Possibility Issue

There’s a certain magic in visiting your favorite thrift store — the thrill of the hunt and the joy of discovery can become an obsession. For some, what started as a hobby becomes a career.