5 Poppin' Thrift Shops in TX: Design Blitz

Every brand or shop must utilize various forms of design and layout in order to create a cohesive match of color, typography, symbolism, space usage, message, balance and rhythm, proportion and unity.

For this design blitz, I'll be critiquing the design and layout of 5 different thrift/brand resale stores. I'll start by featuring a shop/brand's logo and then talk about the overall appearance of the in-person location.

Uptown Cheapskate (Dallas, TX with multiple locations)

Clean and clear-cut. The logo and typography of Uptown clearly highlights a more minimalist design. Using a color like purple ties a brand to above average thinking as it is a scarcity in nature. As a brand resale store, this boutique highlights a new way for people to shop by buying gently used clothing and through careful thrifting.

The store itself is appropriately designed to show customers different sections and selections of styles. Mannequins are used on top shelves of sections to highlight the type of brands carried by each Uptown Cheapskate.

Buffalo Exchange (Dallas, TX & Austin, TX)

A typographer and digital designer's worst nightmare. Though their logo appears to be more free-spirited and whimsical, it also shows a lack of constraint and defined criteria.

Just like their logo, their mannequin display shows that they don't cater solely to one style. Buffalo Exchange seeks out out-of-the-box styles with a random array of clothing. In such a case, one could argue that their logo matches their overall theme and creates a sense of unity in the undefined fashion.

Flamingo Vintage Kilo (Austin, TX & Barcelona, Spain)

Reminiscent of 70's neon fluorescent signage, Flamingo Vintage has a more urban appeal, using baby pinks and subtle sky blues. More cohesive than our last brand, the worldwide Spanish brand appeals to the city youth culture without losing out to fast fashion. The intriguing aesthetic is matched by the equally eye-catching store.

with clothes draping over the the floor like city lights, Flamingo uses space in a way to showcase their new products while also giving ode to their logo's style. Various props and themes are used to highlight urban colors, create a city-like metaphor and entice customers to check out their vintage styles.

The Pavement (Austin, TX)

curated recycled fashion, the Pavement uses a Broadway-themed logo that appeals to the youth culture of Austin by using vibrant yellows and a very in-your-face direct logo. The focal point of The Pavement's logo attracts customers to this shop as its vintage aesthetic is a metaphor for the recycled modern and vintage clothes it houses.

As Austin is known for being "weird," The Pavement is equally as weird. Using muted colors on the store front walls, combined with the minimalist colorful designs of the interior, The Pavement cohesively uses retro colors that appeal to vintage tastes.

GoodWill (Dallas, TX & More)

Not as glamorous as our 4 other thrift shops, GoodWill is still a strong contender when it comes to recycled fashion. By using a prominent blue hue in its logo, GoodWill reflects trustworthiness, reliability and appeal more people with less disposable income. By incorporating that half-smile, it presents customers with a friendly and inviting experience.

The store's layout is direct and reminiscent of any grocer or market. It allows customers to have easy access and search as they look for different pieces of clothing. In addition, its lack of brand theming makes it, in some ways, less "threatening" and more open in concept. In this case, less is more!

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Design is a very important aspect of any brand and store. By curating a theme, using appropriate space and colors, customers are better able to understand the vibe and environment of a thrift shop. Whether its your commonplace GoodWill or wacky Buffalo Exchange, the use of a proper logo with corresponding elements highlights what customers can expect during their in-person shopping experience.