The second-hand hype is real in London, and sustainable fashion is the hot new trend everyone is talking about. How better to be sustainable than buying pre-loved clothes that are still just as fashionable?
Era-specific fashion trends are constantly in resurgence, so you’ll be bound to find an authentic version of the H&M 90s-style dress you’ve had your eye on in a vintage store. You’re helping the environment and getting a one-of-a-kind piece – plus the thrill of the chase in a vintage store is much more fun than picking a fast-fashion item off a rail.
There are so many awesome vintage stores in London, from tiny market stalls to huge warehouses of hand-selected items – here are five of our favourites.
55-59 Hanbury Street, E1 5JP.
ATIKA is a vintage department store in Shoreditch set in a Victorian warehouse, which in the past has played host to Europe’s biggest cobblers and a fine furniture manufacturer. It showcases unique vintage pieces from the 70s to the 00s, including high-end brands and sports brands.
ATIKA also has its own reworked vintage range called REMIX, with sustainability as a priority. All the garments for the range are designed on-site and manufactured either in-house or at their North London factory, so you know everything is authentic and local with a small carbon footprint.
Its prices are reasonable for quality vintage fashion, and it offers a range of pieces for any style.
91 Brick Lane, E1 6QR.
Staying in the Shoreditch area, we’ve also got Brick Lane Vintage Market – an East London gem that is full of a variety of vintage pieces. Each stall is hosted independently, and you’ll find everything from cheap vintage tees to bespoke pieces all under one roof. There are also lots of stalls stocking furniture, old magazines, vinyl records and retro memorabilia – plenty to get stuck into!
282 Portobello Road, W10 5TE.
Among the bustle and bric-a-brac of Portobello Road you’ll find 282, a vintage clothing store which “provides classic quality vintage while focusing on English sartorial elegance.” They stock leather, tweed, tailcoats, ballgowns and all manner of traditional English clothing, which is a delight whether you’re a tourist or a local.
2-100 Stoke Newington Road, Hackney Downs, N16 7XB.
Beyond Retro have several locations in London (and across the country), but Dalston’s store is my favourite. It stocks over 12,000 one-of-a-kind pieces, from cosy vintage sweatshirts to party dresses, and every piece is carefully sourced by the Beyond Retro team so you know you’re getting the best. They search through piles and piles of second-hand clothes to find vintage gems – only 1 in 1,000 make the cut – which is great for sustainability and for your wardrobe.
Okay, not strictly a vintage store, but definitely not one to disregard. Some of my favourite clothes come from charity shops, and there’s no better feeling than finding a beautiful piece after digging through the rails – and they’re usually much cheaper than a vintage store! Bonus points for vintage designer gear from obscure brands as well: I once found a cashmere jumper worth over £500 for a tenner in a charity shop.
And to top it off, your money goes to a great cause as well.
My favourite charity shops in London include Shop from Crisis, Hackney, Royal Trinity Hospice, Brook Green, and Oxfam Shop, Camden – but I’d love to hear your favourites too!
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