One of my favorite parts of living in a big city is the fun of discovering new places, and I think I found my new favorite spot. Located in the heart of Broadripple, The Toggery Resale Boutique was founded by Lynn Sanders-Whittle in 1986 after a career working for Estee Lauder and Elizabeth Arden. What began as just Sanders-Whittle in a 400 square-foot space has grown to ten employees and 4,000 square feet of perfectly curated secondhand apparel.
I couldn’t believe my good fortune when I first ventured into the store. The store houses dozens of racks of clothing, all in mint condition from reputable brands. As a lifelong shopper, this was my heaven. I spent over an hour browsing the racks, tossing jackets, shoes, and jeans into my bag to try on. Finding pieces from brands I love for half of the original price was such a thrill!
In addition to enjoying the selection that The Toggery works so hard to curate, a few other reasons have kept me coming back month after month. First, I love supporting a local female-owned business. Toggery employees have devoted time to keeping the store stocked with merchandise, and many of their loyal customers have been shopping there for decades. It feels like such a worthy cause to give my dollars to a local shop that has been a community staple rather than a massive corporation. Secondly, I love how much shopping at The Toggery reduces clothing waste. We all know what it’s like to have a plethora of pieces in our closet sitting unworn for months or even years. The Toggery provides a place for you to take these clothes and, if sold, make a little extra money! You can earn some cash, and your clothes can go to a new home where they will be worn and appreciated. As someone who loves to shop, I love buying clothes frequently and swapping things out regularly. The Toggery is the perfect place for me to purge my closet and find some trendy, affordable pieces.
If you are doing a closet clean out anytime soon I urge you to set aside your excellent, used condition pieces and take a trip to The Toggery. They work on consignment, so if your clothing sells, you will receive 40% of the sale price and can use that money to find some new-to-you clothing items just in time for spring to hit. Whether you like designer Gucci bags or just appreciate a nice pair of Gap jeans, The Toggery has something for everyone (there are even a few men’s racks). The world feels heavy at times, and supporting our local businesses feels like a small step we can all take in making Indianapolis an even stronger and kinder community.
