Papaya

Papaya is Matalan's own clothing label, sold on the UK high street and online, and it turns up often in preloved bundles. Our Papaya rail is small and changes week to week, but it usually holds casual trousers and jeans, printed and plain tops, soft knitwear and the odd shirt. Sizes generally sit between UK 8 and 14, and most pieces are graded Very good.

7 products

Buying preloved Papaya

What turns up on the rail

Papaya covers a lot of ground, so the mix is broad for such a small rail. Trousers and jeans come through regularly, from straight-leg denim to lighter summer styles, and you will find them alongside the rest of our women's trousers and jeans. Tops are the other steady category: long sleeve jersey, flutter sleeve blouses and lace trims sit next to plainer everyday shapes in women's tops. Knitwear appears in jumpers and fine-gauge layers, which you can browse with the wider knitwear collection. Shirts show up now and then too.

  • Patterns we see most: abstract prints, stripes and animal print
  • Styles: casual daywear, summer pieces, some occasionwear
  • Sizes typically UK 8 to 14
  • Condition: mostly Very good, with the occasional Like new or New with tags

Sizing and fit notes

Papaya sizing generally follows standard UK high street measurements, so a Papaya 12 usually behaves like a 12 elsewhere. That said, it is a large label covering several ranges, and fit can vary between them. Jersey tops tend to be cut with a bit of ease, while woven shirts and trousers can feel closer to the body. Older stock may also differ from newer stock, since high street blocks shift over the years. Because every piece here is one of a kind, we would rather you checked than guessed. Ask us for measurements on any Papaya item before you buy and we will take them flat: chest, waist, hip, inside leg, rise and length, whichever applies.

Why buy Papaya preloved

Papaya is affordable to begin with, which means a lot of it gets bought, worn a handful of times and passed on. That works in your favour secondhand. Buying it preloved keeps a wearable garment in use instead of in a bin bag, and it lets you try a print or a shape you might not commit to at full price. Everything on this rail has been checked by hand, graded honestly and photographed as it actually looks, marks included. If a piece has bobbling, a loose thread or a faded patch, you will see it in the photos and read it in the description. Browse the rest of our women's clothing if you want to build an order around one Papaya find.

Common questions

Is Papaya the same as Matalan?

Papaya is Matalan's own-brand clothing label, so you will usually see it on labels rather than as a standalone shop. That means most Papaya pieces were bought at high street prices, which keeps them realistic secondhand buys. It also means the range is broad, from basics to party tops.

What condition are the Papaya items in?

The majority are graded Very good, with the occasional Like new or New with tags piece. Very good means the item has been worn and washed but has no faults that affect wear. We photograph the actual garment, so what you see is the one that arrives.

Are Papaya clothes worth buying secondhand if they were cheap new?

Honestly, not always. Papaya is a budget label, so some pieces have thinner fabric and may not last as long as a mid-market equivalent, and a heavily worn item is worth skipping. We only list pieces we would wear ourselves, and we say in the description if a fabric feels lightweight.

Which Papaya sizes do you usually stock?

The rail typically runs UK 8 to 14, though that shifts as items sell and new ones land. Petite and tall variants sometimes appear, and where a label shows one we note it in the listing. If the label has been cut out or faded, we say so and rely on measurements instead.

You do not have my size or the piece I wanted. What now?

The Papaya rail is small, so it does turn over quickly. New pieces go up most days across the shop, so it is worth checking back or looking at similar shapes from other brands in the same category. You can also message us with the size and style you are after and we will keep an eye out as stock comes in.