Spend Less and Get More at the Roundabout Boutique

I have always bought secondhand clothes. As a student it was a necessity — I wanted to look nice, but I also wanted to have enough money to eat. I have a beautiful circa-1980 gold-and-black prom dress I bought in the early 2000s that cost me less than GBP 5 (RMB 44.24) which I still wear to this day.

As the years go by, and my financial situation has improved, I still buy secondhand. I can’t go back to the UK without doing “the rounds” of the local charity shops or exploring a car boot sale. I love secondhand sales so much, in fact, that I set up Beijing’s (maybe even China’s) biggest and best jumble sale, called Rumble in the Jumble.

Due to work, however, I have handed over the running of Rumble in the Jumble to my wonderful friend Charlotte White who has taken it from strength to strength. I may no longer oversee Rumble, but something that I instigated remains: the drop-off stall for donations to the Beijing-based charity Roundabout.

Roundabout was established back in 2008 by Leslie Simpson. Simpson had been volunteering with a foster home in Beijing which accepted donations of clothes and home items. She saw firsthand that the effort involved in sorting donations was an enormous drain on the already over-stretched staff and volunteers. And so, the secondhand fashion lover saw an opportunity, and the Roundabout retail store was founded.

What goes around, comes around, and even a cursory glance at Roundabout’s logo can tell you that it is committed to exactly that. Revenue generated by Roundabout helps people across society — from the elderly to orphaned or poor children to people with mental or physical disabilities, and also women from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Roundabout Store and Community Centre is a thrifters’ treasure trove. The relatively recent addition of the consignment section, which boasts new, off-the-rack items, is a real draw for many people as it offers a way to buy unusual, often branded, clothes at a fraction of the price.

Regardless of who I have spoken to — individuals concerned about the global trend of consumerist fashion, people who want to look good but not break the bank, or those who want their purchases to make a difference — all were united in their love for the store and the charity.

“I am always on the lookout for pieces that may no longer be available. It makes it more fun when you don’t know what to expect. It’s like a treasure hunt!” said Anna Nocon, a self-confessed “fashion freak” who previously worked in the fashion industry.

Nocon said she first caught the secondhand bug after stumbling across a British charity shop. She has since shopped secondhand across the world and tries to buy used clothes as much as possible.

“I have seen how many unnecessary things that the fashion industry makes. I don’t think we should be changing or buying new things every season. This is my way of supporting sustainability and reasonable shopping – after all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

What I love about Roundabout, and charity shops in general, is that it’s not just about what you buy, but also about what that purchase means. When I spoke to Lilly Li, Roundabout charity sale department director, she told me that supporting Roundabout can, and has, saved lives.

Take the story of Nini. When Nini was just six years old she was diagnosed with leukemia. Her mom took her all the way from Jiangxi province to Beijing People’s Hospital for treatment but didn’t know what to do when she was told that bone marrow transplant surgery would cost RMB 300,000. Hospital fees can bankrupt families, and parents will go to extreme lengths to help their children.

“They were found on the sidewalk trying desperately to raise money,” Li explained. “So, Roundabout helped to pay for the surgery. Nini, now 10 years old, came back for her last checkup in August and was told she had completely recovered. She is a happy elementary school girl living with her parents in her hometown.”

I have had the pleasure of speaking to a few of the wonderful people who volunteer or support Roundabout. It’s funny, for many of us living in Beijing, a city of over 21 million people, sometimes it can be really lonely. Nocon agreed.

“Beijing is such a big place. Sometimes it’s hard to be part of a community and meet new people. Roundabout has created a cool community of volunteers with shared interests, so it has this social aspect, which is beneficial to expats.”

Another active member of the community is Hannah Northcott, a drama teacher at the International School of Beijing. She posts pictures of her Roundabout-sourced outfits regularly in the Roundabout Vintage & Designer WeChat group. But this is no humblebrag, Northcott has a mission.

“I support Roundabout through social media. I post style tips and outfit ideas for the everyday woman. This helps create awareness in our community and the world about sustainable style,” Northcott explained.

Northcott is even having her birthday at Roundabout.

“We’re excited to have a girls’ day out at the Roundabout for my 40th! Last June, we did a surprise farewell party for Kristina, one of our friends at the Vintage and Consignment Section. It was so much fun we needed another reason to do it again!”

Another of Roundabout’s fashion champions is Nancy Jenkinson Brown. You might have caught her singing at one of Beijing’s many music venues. A bubbly, funny Brit, Brown is the epitome of a fashionable performer, comfortable in her own skin and wildly enthusiastic.

Brown runs the Boutique’s WeChat group, and can be credited for many of the shop’s purchases – whether through posting pictures of the items she has “live modeled” or through her own buys. In her own words: “I volunteer here. Therefore, I shop here. Sometimes I think it’s the other way round!”

Her “live modeling” work began when she started to support the vintage and consignment section as a stylist and consultant. She realized that some people maybe needed a push to venture into the world of secondhand shopping.

“The problem is that sometimes people associate secondhand with hokey sweaters and smelly shoes instead of amazing pieces,” she explained. “So I suggested maybe we hang it on me as a visuals and social media marketing bod — but it is all honest work — I would only ever support and promote people and places I strongly believe in.”

The tireless work of the charity, its volunteers, and those that shop here goes to show that you really can spend less but gain so much more by shopping secondhand. What goes around, really does come around, and with a community like Roundabout’s, I am confident it will be around for many more years to come.

For those who wish to donate to Roundabout, call or go to www.roundaboutchina.com to register a donation and drop-off point or to arrange a collection.

Roundabout Boutique & Community Centre
Daily 9am-6pm, Cathay View Plaza, No.2 Xiangjiang Bei Lu, Chaoyang District, 137 1827 4154

Photos: Anna Nocon, Hannah Northcott, Nancy Jenkinson Brown, Roundabout