I attended my first-ever sample sale in Los Angeles, and it was hosted by Girlfriend Collective. (I can guarantee you that this will not be my last post about Girlfriend Collective. It is one of my favorites, if not my actual favorite brand to buy from, and I absolutely love everything about them – their mission, messaging, and product – all of it).
So when your favorite brand announces they’re doing a sample sale in Los Angeles, and you work for yourself and can make your own schedule, YOU CLEAR YOUR CALENDAR.
I’ve never been to a sample sale before, because most of the brands that I’ve seen offering them are brands that really don’t have much size inclusivity. Typically, when I go shopping in person, I am usually shopping in the L/XL racks, and it’s really disheartening to not find very many pieces that you want to buy in your size. The selection just isn’t what it is with smaller sizes.
I knew for sure that this wouldn’t be an issue when I showed up to the Girlfriend Collective sample sale, so I felt super confident in finally attending. But before we get into the deets, let me just introduce you what this brand is all about.
What is Girlfriend Collective?
Shopping sustainably really is becoming easier and more accessible every day. One of the latest and greatest innovators in sustainable fashion is Girlfriend Collective, a company founded in 2016 with the goal of creating stylish, high-quality athleisure from recycled materials. Their products are made from “recycled materials like post-consumer water bottles, fishing nets retrieved from the seas, fabric scraps, and other waste.” The company works directly with factories in Vietnam that value fair trade practices and safe working conditions for all involved. Plus, even their packaging is cute and sustainable!
Girlfriend Collective has become known and loved for its signature leggings, which come in sizes XXS-6XL and feature a wide variety of colors and patterns. I own at least 10-12 pairs of these, in addition to many of their other items, like sports bras, sweatshirts, jumpsuits, and much more. (I could probably wear one GC piece a day for a whole month and not run out of items).
With its unique blend of luxury quality and sustainability, Girlfriend Collective has quickly become one of the most popular athleisure brands on the market – and it is certainly the most popular brand in my closet.
The Sample Sale Experience
Typically, retailers will offer a sample sale to dump excess merchandise that they otherwise won’t be able to sell. But I knew that anything at this sample sale would usually be in my online cart on any given day anyway. The sample sale offered me an in-person opportunity to shop some of Girlfriend Collective’s most popular styles at discounted prices. Prices started at just $10, and went up to about $50-60 for jackets and outerwear that normally retails around $250+.
All items were final sale—meaning no returns or exchanges—but I wasn’t worried about that because I’ve purchased one of pretty much every one of their products so I was a woman on a mission.
I arrived pretty early – about 15 minutes before opening and there were already about 20-25 people in line in front of me. They let us in right around opening time – in groups of about 20. They ensured we were wearing masks, and they accepted credit card.
They even had a bin near the exit of FREE items! I didn’t end up grabbing anything out of it– but I could have spent at least another 45 minutes digging.
The sale and experience was so exhilarating that I don’t remember specifics on pricing, but I spent a total of $285 on items that normally would retail around $600 or more. So, so worth it.
What I Came Home With:
Twist Unitard in Black (Large)
Luxe Paneled Unitard in Black (Large) 
50/50 Wide Leg Sweatpant and Classic Sweatshirt in Porcini (XL) 
Puffer Vest in Cream (L) 
Puffer Coat in Black (XL) 
Palma Plunge One-Piece in Black (XL) 
Was It Worth It?
After about 25 minutes in the sample sale, I’m confident that I was able to peruse every rack and grab what I wanted. It was really cool to be able to most items I wanted in a surplus. There were a number pieces in each size available, unlike any other shopping experience I’ve previously had.
Shopping sustainably can often mean spending a bit more money than you would on fast fashion items from less ethical companies. That’s why I was so excited about this amazing opportunity to score designer athleisure items for a fraction of their usual price! I can’t think of a better way to tighten up my wardrobe then by stocking up on sustainable pieces during Girlfriend Collective’s sample sale! I truly hope they host another!