Editor’s note: This is part of The Know’s new series, Staff Favorites. Each week, we will offer our opinions on the best that Colorado has to offer for dining, shopping, entertainment, outdoor activities and more. (We’ll also let you in on some hidden gems).
On the west end of Boulder’s Pearl Street, the city’s most famous restaurants and stores attract pedestrians strolling the brick-laden streets. On the other end, however, is where some of Boulder’s best-hidden gems lie, like Paradise Found Records & Music, Boxcar Coffee & Bakery and, most notably, Apocalypse, the gold standard for Front Range vintage clothing.
Apocalypse has been a center of gravity for fashion in Boulder since it replaced the old Buffalo Exchange storefront after the disgraced chain’s 2020 closure. If you see a cool twenty-something sporting a pair of ’60s-inspired platform heels or a print dress that looks like it transported directly from the year 2000, chances are they got it at Apocalypse.
There are plenty of popular stores in the area to buy clothes new, but the infamously eccentric and environmentally conscious residents of Boulder flock to secondhand stores like Apocalypse to find and sell their most beloved pieces of wearable art.
The consignment process is where the magic of Apocalypse comes to life. Their buyers are very knowledgeable; the adoration for vintage clothing and sustainability is palpable. If you care about being on-trend, the process of buying new can sometimes feel overwhelming. But with clothing being a major contributor to the increasingly urgent global emissions problem, it’s hard to know how to style sustainably. Apocalypse provides a space to keep the cycle of clothing consumption small and within city limits, where you can buy, love, and sell beautiful clothing you are unlikely to find anywhere else, all in one place.
Apocalypse is mission-driven, and not just for the environment. It often hosts all-day fundraisers, especially during cultural heritage months, with a portion of profits going to various local causes. Earlier this month, it held a Pride Fundraising Party to raise money for the Transgender Center of the Rockies.
Sometimes it even hosts fundraising events. Last summer, I attended a comedy show that was a fundraiser for Buckle Bunnies, a Texas-based reproductive justice nonprofit after Roe v. Wade was overturned.
It’s not a thrift store, so some of its items do run on the pricier side. However, if you’re looking to curate a personal style and slow down the cycle of your own clothing consumption, the investment can be worth it. And worry not — there are always some inexpensive gems in the densely-packed racks.
Boulder might be one of the only places in the country where you can get from world-class hiking and climbing to expertly-curated secondhand fashion in 10 minutes or less. Seasoned Boulderites certainly take advantage, and you can too. Happy shopping!
Apocalypse, 1813 Pearl St, Boulder; discoapocalypse.co
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