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Inside, racks of clothes – divided by category, size and gender – extended out of sight across the store’s football field-sized expanse. A cornucopia of other peoples’ dresses, shorts, suits, gowns, belts, hats, skirts, scarves, jeans, puffy coats, activewear, T-shirts and silk pyjamas surrounded display cases of rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, watches, sunglasses, perfume and cufflinks. The mezzanine was dedicated to lost phones, headphones, chargers, gaming systems, e-readers, tablets, laptops and cameras. Elsewhere, shelves were stuffed with sneakers, wingtips, boots, pumps, slippers and flip-flops.

Oh, and the brands. Unlike thrift stores, which are filled with items their owners no longer want, Unclaimed Baggage’s merchandise comes from travellers who – according to Jennifer Kritner, the company’s vice president of retail and company culture – often pack their trendiest belongings for their holiday. Consequently, hunters dug through rows filled with Patagonia, Burberry, Rolex, Apple, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Bulgari items. 

Kritner joined me as I wandered through the store. When we found ourselves in front of a wall of wedding dresses, I asked her about the emotions and personal connections associated with the inventory surrounding us.

Jessica Parrillo

“We all lose [things] sometimes,” said Kritner, who is also director of the company’s Reclaimed for Good Foundation, which gives about one-third of incoming items to charitable organisations. “Our goal is to do the best with what comes in… some [items] are sold, some are donated to those in need and some are recycled. But they all receive a second life. The question, really, is: ‘What is on the other side of loss?’.” She paused. “Being found.”