A woman has taken to social media to share the “once-in-a-lifetime find” she stumbled upon during a visit to her local thrift store.
After revealing the value of her secondhand purchases, very few could disagree with that statement.
America is home to over 25,000 resale, consignment, and not-for-profit resale stores, according to Capital One Shopping. Given that number and the amount of secondhand items on sale every day, there are undoubtedly hidden gems begging to be uncovered. Most avid thrifters will tell you there is an art to finding these pieces. It is about spotting key details others might miss, knowing where best to shop and keeping a close eye on current prices floating around the internet.
Once in a while, though, it is simply about being in the right place at the right time. Zoe Bates told Newsweek her own incredible thrift-store find wasn’t down to any of the above, but rather a simple act of “fate.”
She just so happened to drop into the Miami Goodwill Superstore on the right day and at the right time when a collection of 14 Isaia cashmere blazers hit the shop floor. “The fabric looked so luxurious,” Bates said. “I touched one and pulled it out to get a closer look. They were all on a rack that had just come out to be placed on the sales floor.”
Despite being secondhand, Bates was taken by how pristine each of the jackets were. “They were in excellent condition. The one I pulled out was fully lined in silk,” she said. “They may have been worn once or twice.” Bates doesn’t know how the jackets ended up in Goodwill, but she has a few theories. “I’m of the mind that either someone passed away and their family donated their clothing, an angry partner, part of lost luggage, or a store or boutique donation as they look new or barely worn,” she said.
When she first came across the jackets, Bates’s first thought was that they would make for good Christmas presents for friends and family. “I initially only wanted two or three,” she said. “I was looking for gifts to give people like my ex-husband, son, neighbor, or my boss.” However, after getting a closer look at the quality of each jacket, and seeing they were priced at just $9.99 each, Bates decided to pick up a few more. “I grabbed 10 and left four,” she said.
At the time, Bates thought she had just picked up some designer jackets for a bargain price. “It wasn’t until I made it home that I fully understood what I had,” she said. Bates started looking up each of the jackets online to see how much they normally retail for. That was when her jaw hit the floor. “They’re worth more than $5,000 each,” she said. “Some are $7,000.” Their value was confirmed when Bates posted her discovery to Reddit under the handle u/ZoeB8s. “Once-in-a-lifetime find,” she wrote alongside a slideshow of the various jackets.
Most of those commenting on the post were inclined to agree. “I’ve found a few Isaias, but never a haul this good,” one user said. “This is an absolutely incredible find. Sport coats are one of my favorite things to thrift and I have a nice collection of Harris Tweed, Harrods, BrooksBrothers, and Brioni, but nothing at this level, amazing!!!,” another wrote. A third said: “OMG [oh my God]! I just went to the website. You aren’t kidding. Good haul.”
When Bates first bought the jackets, the plan was to give them away as gifts. But after finding out how much they are worth, that may have changed. “I’m not sure what I am going to do with them,” Bates said. “I may sell and use the proceeds to purchase a car. Mine is on its last leg.”
Maybe that’s why it feels like “fate” that these jackets came into Bates’ life. Though there will always be those who scoff at the notion, Bates’s story does sound somewhat fateful when you dig into some of the details. “The funny thing about all of this is paid $100 for these jackets. I felt lucky so I bought a lottery ticket. I won $100,” she said. “So the jackets were free.”
Bates said she feels “grateful” to have uncovered such an amazing find just when she needed it most. “I feel like when you do good, good things come to you,” she said. “I was looking for things to give at Christmas, even though I’m not in the best position myself. I desperately need a car. Now, I may be able to buy one or finally have mine repaired.”