LE PORTRAIT
An address with a clear point of view.
Emmaüs Alternatives Clichy occupies a well-organized space at 69 rue de Clichy in the 9th arrondissement. Unlike some charity thrift shops where you must dig through chaos, here clothes are sorted by colour and methodically arranged by employees in job-reinsertion programmes, making browsing considerably more pleasant. The selection spans women's, men's and children's clothing — from vintage to streetwear, classic styles to bold colours, as described on the official Emmaüs Alternatives YouTube channel — plus books, CDs, vinyl records, plants and a curated selection of decorative objects and curiosities worth exploring. Everyday brands like H&M and Monoprix dominate the rails, with accessible prices ranging from zero to 45 euros. Behind the counter lies a genuine social mission: clothes are sourced from donations and restocked by people in job-reinsertion programmes. One Emmaüs employee reflects on YouTube: "We realize we're quite like the objects we sell — they've had a life, they've been useful, then forgotten, and they become useful again.
That's a bit like our journey too." Another employee emphasizes that work here "is based on humanity," far removed from pure productivity logic. Emmaüs Alternatives also periodically organizes events beyond the shop walls, notably a fair in Montreuil featuring pay-by-weight sales, food vendors, yoga workshops, upcycling sessions and talks on responsible consumption — worth following their social media to catch the next edition. A few practical details to keep in mind: the shop closes on the first Monday of each month, contrary to what Google indicates, and student discounts are sometimes available — ask at the till. A worthwhile stop if you're in the neighbourhood and seeking secondhand finds without the hassle, with the assurance that your purchase funds something tangible.
« La caissière était très aimable. C'est un peu cher, mais c'est agréable de flâner dans cette jolie boutique de vêtements d'occasion, très bien agencée. On voit que les articles sont soigneusement sélectionnés. J'ai déniché quelques pièces (je suis une grande adepte des friperies aux États-Unis) : un joli pull à 15 € et une robe de marque éco-responsable à 18,50 € (elle coûte plus de 100 € en magasin, je crois). Ce ne sont pas les prix habituels des friperies, mais de belles trouvailles comme souvenirs de mon voyage à Paris. »




