About 400 million pounds of clothing and other textiles reach Puerto Rico's landfills every year.
Secondhand stores, also known as thrift shops, are gaining ground amid a solid-waste crisis, particularly around textiles, and Santurce has not been left out of this trend, which responds not only to environmental concerns but also shapes consumer culture on the Island.
Several stores of this kind appear from time to time in the barrio, each with its own style and philosophy. One example is Electroshock, a business on calle Loíza that specializes in pieces from other eras.
"The concept came from seeing this type of store in other countries and noticing that nothing similar existed here. We wanted to create a space somewhere between a Salvation Army and a vintage shop," explained Mónica Oquendo Muñíz, owner of the store.
Walking in, retro music welcomes visitors to a space dedicated to reviving other eras. The shelves hold not only clothing from different decades but also vinyl records, accessories and carefully selected antique items.
The concept behind Electroshock, however, goes beyond aesthetics.
"We focus on local sourcing. Right now it's trendy to bring secondhand clothing from the United States, but that creates the same problem as buying new clothes online. We want to give a second life to pieces that already exist here in Puerto Rico," Oquendo said.
Beyond selling clothing, Electroshock also operates a buy, trade and sell model, allowing customers to sell or exchange garments in return for store credit. This system encourages circular consumption and gives customers the chance to refresh their wardrobe without contributing to pollution.
"It's important to give a second life to a piece of clothing that is perfectly good,"
said employee Karla Sánchez.
"Secondhand stores are driving a movement within the community and promoting the local economy. Even if some people see it only as a trend, the reality is that it is helping reduce pollution," said Paula, a customer at Electroshock.
To the west of Santurce, on calle Monserrate, is La Percha 704, another secondhand store with a social focus.
Since it was founded more than 20 years ago, it has been part of Fundación Fondita de Jesús, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the homeless population.
"We sort everything that comes in, primarily men's clothing, into fresh and comfortable pieces, and send it directly to the foundation so that homeless people can access it free of charge," explained Rocío Nájeraurriola, an employee of la fondita de Jesús.
The rest is sold, allowing more people to find affordable clothing while supporting a social cause.
But La Percha 704 is not only dedicated to selling clothing. It also offers upcycling workshops, where "people are educated about other alternatives for clothing that may not be sellable because it is torn or stained."
The goal is for those pieces to be used as raw material to create other things.
They also offer sewing workshops. "The participant uses clothing that is no longer in good condition to make cushions or bandanas, so that clothing doesn't end up in a landfill," Nájera explained.
Sheila Rivera, a volunteer at La Percha 704, emphasized that "there is a lot of clothing that deserves a second chance. Sometimes we receive pieces that are completely new, with tags and everything. I know there are many stores now coming from the United States, but it's important to focus on what's local. If you give us the chance, you'll be surprised by what you can find here."
📍Secondhand stores in Santurce
Click on the green icons for information about each location.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
