You know when you’re out and you find the best thing ever, only to find out that they cost an arm and a leg? Well, a great solution to this is thrifting! Although thrifting usually has a variety of different styles, there are some areas that have thrift stores that align with the style of their area. Harlem Collective Creative is one of these stores, so if you’re in Harlem and you’re interested in Harlem’s style, I’ll let you know if Harlem Collective Creative is the place to go.

Harlem’s style originates from African American culture which was popularized during the Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem Renaissance was all about racial pride, embracing culture and it started in the 1920’s, which was around the time of The Great Migration bringing in hundreds of thousands of African Americans. It was a time where African Americans wanted to be as expressive as they could be because they no longer wanted to be oppressed by the shackles of society, they wouldn’t allow it and so they made a mark and now Harlem’s style is bold and bright, filled with statement pieces and potential. I figured for anyone who’s visiting Harlem or trying out new styles, this is a wonderful style to try out. A beautiful embodiment of Harlem’s style can be found in Harlem Collective Creative, just from the outside looking in you can tell that this store loves Harlem, it’s like a reflection of it. The photo below is an example of Harlem’s style and how expressive it is. Even if the whole style doesn’t fit your style, the individual pieces can be more versatile than you’d think!

Photo by https://www.cnn.com/style/article/harlems-fashion-row/index.html

Photos from Harlem Creative Collective (@harlemcreativecollective)Instagram · harlemcreativecollective2.2K+ followers

Harlem Collective Creative is a small store on 736 Saint Nicholas Avenue. It is black owned and female founded. Since this is a smaller store, the items go for more, they are however more guaranteed to be of higher quality then a goodwill. If you are on a budget I wouldn’t recommend going here but if you want to find unique items, a statement piece to go with one of your outfits, this could be the store for you. Now, my personal preference when it comes to thrifting, is a big, quiet space where I can keep to myself and get in the zone of looking for items. This thrift store is the opposite as it’s small and more personable, which isn’t a bad thing but if it’s not your thing, you might not enjoy this thrift store as much as a Goodwill or No relation vintage. If you do like more personable thrift stores, you don’t mind the price, and you like designer brands or quality pieces; this could be your hidden gem whenever you visit harlem. Here are some examples of the style and pieces that you’d find in the store!

Photos from Harlem Creative Collective (@harlemcreativecollective)Instagram · harlemcreativecollective2.2K+ followers

My personal experience with this boutique and first impression was that it was easy to access because there are buses and trains that are very near it and since it was near my school, city college, it is a good place to go during the gaps in between my classes. The first thing I noticed was how welcoming the staff were, I was welcomed and also told that the thrift store is different from others because it doesn’t have any fast fashion, so no SHEIN, Temu, H&M, or other fast fashion brands.

This piece was such an eye catching piece, I had to include it. It reminded me of the beautiful bold colors that are common in Harlem’s style. Photo taken by me.

Everything was nicely organized and clean, It was pleasant to see because you can tell that the pieces they offer are kept in shape and handled with care. Not only do they have statement pieces but they also have pieces that you can match with anything and although I initially thought this wouldn’t be my cup of tea, I actually really enjoyed this store.

Photo taken by me.

All in all, I would definitely come back and know that I can trust in the quality of these pieces that will last me a lifetime, I would recommend this hidden gem, if you have some free time stop by Harlem Collective Creative.

Citations

“Great Migration: Definition, Causes & Impact.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/topics/black-history/great-migration#. Accessed 13 Mar. 2024. Edwards, Mion. “Harlem’s Fashion Row Is Opening Doors for Black Designers.” CNN, Cable News Network, 11 Apr. 2019, www.cnn.com/style/article/harlems-fashion-row/index.html. Accessed 13 Mar. 2024.