Vintage Upheaval
Vintage is in. Our culture is undergoing an aesthetic shift and its popularity is only on the rise. Retro 90s fashion paves our street but retailers can charge an arm and a leg to just imitate the trend. Independent retails have seen this gap in the market and have nurtured it, allowing people to acquire diamonds in the rough! Lou Lou’s vintage fairs graced their presence up in Newcastle- a company that allows various retailers to set up stalls and sell their stock.
If you want to find a bargain, get yourself to a vintage fair like Lou Lou’s. Although they’re there for the same reason, the clothes vary so much. I can guarantee you will find a piece you’ll love. Revival, ran by Susan Karim, enables individuals to discover and re-live the past. The amazing thing about her company is that every single piece she sells either belonged to her family or was made by her. She must have a big family! A woman of many talents, her stall was eye catching and ranged with beautiful knitworks and couture pieces. We noticed that all the independent retailers had their own reasons to go into vintage trade. Susan had always been a business woman, being the first woman in Iraq to enter the textile manufacturing industry. Her travels have inspired her with her designs, making her pieces unique. See her pieces and her style ;)
Yellow Jelly has been working for 13 years, scouring the nation in charity shops and wholesalers to find their pieces. He made his presence first by owing 2 shops then moving onto an online interface; reducing those fierce overheads. He specialised in both womenswear and menswear and I landed myself in a fantastic jacket for only £20! To find a well-made warm jacket on a student budget is a godsend
Beyond Brave and Vulture Culture both commented that the industry is getting harder to supply for. Garments are getting hard to source and some have even had to get contacts abroad. Still, these suppliers were selling fantastic faux furs and terrific shirts. It is better to sell original vintage or vintage inspired from the retro era to have the desired effect. BB goes through the process of upcycling as well, giving the clothes important TLC. Let the professionals do the work and get shopping!
