A post about a tourist who unknowingly picked up a designer item for just $5 at a thrift store while traveling has captivated users on Reddit.
The post was shared by u/wannabeprofound in the subreddit r/ThriftStoreHauls and garnered over 2,200 upvotes and dozens of comments, with many praising the surprising find. The title of the post says: "Randomly discovered that I got a luxury brand by fluke."
In the caption of the post, the user said: "While traveling a few months back, I ended up in chilly weather I wasn't prepared for. So I walked around town and picked up a couple sweaters from a thrift shop. Wore them around the entire time, they were quite comfy and I was happy with them."
The story took a turn when, weeks later, a friend complimented one of the sweaters and asked where it came from. "I told her the story and she asked me what brand it is. I had no clue," the user wrote. "Her being a fashion enthusiast, saw the buttons and told me I have with me Ami Paris, a well-known brand. How exciting!! It's a soft and comfy cardigan."
Ami Paris is a luxury label founded in Paris in 2011 by designer Alexandre Mattiussi. According to the company website, the starting price for both men's and women's cardigans and sweaters is around $440, with many pieces retailing well above that threshold.
There has been a boom in the secondhand retail sector. An August 2024 report by Research and Markets said that U.S. thrift store revenue was projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.5 percent over the past five years, reaching an estimated $14.2 billion—including a 1.4 percent increase in 2023 alone.
Reddit users were quick to congratulate the poster on the accidental luxury score. "What a great surprise!" wrote u/Soulsingin1. Another user, u/lxlxnde, added: "Holy cow I wasn't expecting to see $600 sweaters when I looked up the brand."
Several commenters emphasized the authenticity of the moment. "This is the best kind of accidental thrifting—you bought it to wear because you liked it," posted u/Singlostus. Meanwhile, u/wesleyshypothesis commented: "This looks gorgeous! I love it—great find!"
Not everyone was convinced, however. A few users raised questions about whether the cardigan truly matched the brand's typical designs. "I'm really not sure if this was ever something AMI made lol [laugh out loud] looks nothing like their style," added u/bypopulardemand.
Another commenter, u/yasdinl, shared: "I don't know the brand but the thinness of the fabric looks suspicious for it to be considered luxury, imo [in my opinion]."
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via the Reddit messaging system.
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