The Complete Guide to Thrift Shopping for Branded Clothes in Pakistan

More and more people in Pakistan are buying preloved branded clothing, especially students and young professionals who want authentic brands at prices that make sense. There is more choice than ever: landa bazaars, Instagram pages and online thrift stores. That also makes it easier to overpay, buy the wrong size or end up with a copy. This guide covers where to thrift in Pakistan, how to judge condition and size from photos, what to pay, and how to pay safely.

What is thrifting (“lundapur”) in Pakistan?

In Pakistan, thrifted or “lundapur” clothing means preloved, imported branded garments. Most of it comes from the international second-hand clothing trade, out of the US, UK, Europe and Japan. These are genuine pieces from brands like Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Champion, Adidas and The North Face that have had a previous owner. That is why they sell for much less than new retail.

Thrift is not the same as “master copy” or “first copy” clothing, which is new and made to look like a brand. A thrifted piece is the real thing, with the history of having been worn.

Where to thrift in Pakistan

Landa bazaars

Most big cities have a landa bazaar or second-hand market, where traders sell imported used clothing by the piece or by the bale. Prices can be very low, and digging through the racks is half the fun. The downsides: quality is mixed, nothing has been checked for you, sizes are a guess, and there are no returns. Bazaars suit people who enjoy the hunt and can check a garment in person.

Instagram thrift pages

Instagram is where most online thrifting in Pakistan happens. Good pages post real photos and measurements and answer questions quickly. Standards vary a lot, though. Many pages have no written return policy, items can be sold to whoever pays first, and the details of a deal live only in a chat.

Online thrift stores

A thrift store with its own website sits between the two. Each piece has its own listing with photos, measurements and a condition description. Prices are fixed and shown upfront, and delivery, payment and returns are written down before you pay. You give up the bargaining, but you know exactly what you are buying and what happens if something goes wrong. That is how Lundapur works.

How to judge condition from photos

Online, the photos and the condition notes are all you have, so read both properly:

• Check the stress points. Collars, cuffs, armpits, the seat of trousers and the heels of footwear show wear first. Good listings photograph them.
• Look at the inside. Linings, care labels and seams tell you a lot. Torn linings and missing labels are worth asking about.
• Check zips, poppers and drawcords. A stiff zip is minor; a broken one is a repair job.
• Look for pilling and fading. Fleece and knitwear pill with use. Dark cotton fades. Both are normal, but they should be mentioned.
• Read the grade, then the description. Words like “premium”, “excellent” or “good” mean different things to different sellers. The specific notes (what, and where) matter more than the label.

If a listing has no close-ups or no condition notes, ask before you pay. An honest seller will happily send another photo.

Getting the size right

Size labels on thrifted clothes are only a starting point. US, UK, European and Japanese sizing differ, older pieces often run small, and some items have been shrunk by a previous owner. Measurements are more reliable:

• Chest: measured flat, armpit to armpit. Double it for the full chest.
• Length: from the top of the shoulder (or the collar seam) to the hem.
• Sleeve: from the shoulder seam to the cuff.
• Waist and inseam for trousers; EU size or insole length for footwear.

The easiest way to use them: lay a piece you already own and like the fit of flat, measure it the same way, and compare. A difference of about an inch is usually fine for jackets and hoodies.

Spotting fakes

Copies of popular brands are common in Pakistan, and some are sold as “thrift”. The quickest checks are the labels, the logo embroidery, the stitching and the hardware. Fakes often get small details wrong, like misspelled care labels or uneven logo stitching. They also tend to come in many sizes at once, which almost never happens with genuine second-hand stock. For brand-by-brand checks, see our guides to spotting authentic Polo Ralph Lauren and verifying authentic designer and branded items.

What should thrifted clothes cost?

Price depends on the brand, the condition, how rare the piece is and the season (jackets cost more going into winter). For a rough benchmark, here is what in-stock pieces at Lundapur cost in October 2026:

• Caps and accessories: Rs 800 to Rs 5,600
• Footwear: Rs 1,600 to Rs 7,000
• Bottoms: Rs 2,800 to Rs 6,800
• Tops and hoodies: Rs 3,000 to Rs 18,000
• Windbreakers: Rs 1,800 to Rs 16,000
• Jackets: Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,800

A premium brand priced far below the usual range is a warning sign, not a bargain. The piece is likely a copy or has damage the seller hasn’t mentioned.

Paying and delivery: stay safe

• Know the full price first: item price plus delivery, before you transfer anything.
• Get the policies in writing: how long you have to return or exchange, and who pays the return postage.
• Keep your records: the payment receipt and the listing or chat screenshots, until the item arrives and you are happy with it.
• Be wary of pressure: “pay in the next ten minutes or it’s gone” is a sales tactic, not a policy.

At Lundapur, delivery is a flat Rs 650 anywhere in Pakistan. Orders arrive within 3–5 working days after payment clears. Payment is by direct bank transfer, and returns or exchanges are accepted within 2 days of delivery for unworn items with tags attached. The details are on our policies page.

Looking after thrifted clothes

Second-hand pieces have been worn before, so wash or clean them before you wear them, following the care label. Down and synthetic-fill jackets need a gentle wash and a thorough dry so the filling doesn’t clump. Fleece and knitwear last longer washed inside out on a cool cycle. Suede and leather caps and shoes are best spot-cleaned. Looked after properly, a good thrifted jacket will last for years.

Quick checklist before you buy

1. Are these real photos of this exact item, including close-ups?
2. Do the measurements match a piece you already own?
3. Is every flaw described, and do you know where it is?
4. Do the labels, logo and hardware look right for the brand?
5. Is the price in a believable range for the brand and condition?
6. Do you know the delivery cost and the return policy before paying?

About Lundapur

Lundapur is a premium thrift store in Karachi that sells authentic preloved branded jackets, windbreakers, hoodies, trousers, caps and footwear online across Pakistan. Every piece is hand-picked and inspected inside and out. It is sanitised, photographed by us as it is, and graded honestly, with any wear named on the product page. We never repair or alter what we sell. Read more about how we source and check every piece, or see what to look for in a thrift store in Pakistan.

Getting the size right: thrift pieces are one of a kind, so check measurements before you order. Our shirt size guide, jeans size guide and US, UK, EU and Korean size conversion guide show you how, and men’s vs women’s jeans explains the most common thrift fitting mistake.

Shop at Lundapur: browse the full collection of authentic thrifted pieces. Every item is inspected and graded in Karachi, each is a single piece, and delivery is a flat Rs 650 anywhere in Pakistan. You can also follow new arrivals on Instagram at @lundapurpk.