Back in fashion
A quick Google search with keyword “vintage fair in Bournemouth” shows 835.000 results, while the exploration of “vintage clothing shop in Bournemouth” reveals about 20 suggestions.
Worth The Weight Kilo, Lou Lou’s Vintage Fair, Bournemouth Vintage Kilo Sale are the top results. Some fairs have taken place in the local area for many years, others have only just come to town.
The nation-wide Worth The Weight Kilo by the Vintage Wholesale Company sold all their 300 early bird online tickets for their first Bournemouth event. They sold an additional 800 tickets at the entrance on the day of the sale.
We saw a big interest from people here for vintage clothing.
Anna Lomas
“Having held the Vintage Fair in Bournemouth for years, we saw a big interest from people here for vintage clothing. This motivated us to bring the Worth The Weight Kilo Sale to Bournemouth last year’s November”, explains Anna Lomas, Event Manager at the vintage kilo sale.
This trend has seen an increase in the number of established local vintage shops. Upon further research, I also found out the blog post titled “Vintage shopping in Bournemouth”, which is full of recommendations where to go shopping for vintage clothing in the town.
60 percent of our customers are local people. There are 40 percent are not in Bournemouth.
Richard Mason
Richard Mason, the owner of Clobber vintage shop in Bournemouth, says: “60 percent of our customers are local people. There are 40 percent are not in Bournemouth. They come from London and other nearby places.”
“Most of the customers shopping at Clobber are middle-aged and middle-class. They are from 25 to 40 years old, and willing to pay hundreds of pounds for vintage clothing” he adds.
Boscombe is mentioned in the list of ‘Things to do’ when visiting Bournemouth as it is home to Bournemouth’s vintage quarter and open-air market.
Ups and downs
Alongside the fluctuation of the UK fashion market, vintage vogue has also experienced an upward and downward trend.
As the owner of a 20-year-old vintage shop, Mr. Mason says: “Vintage trend bloomed 10 to 12 years ago. But it has actually seen a downward trend in the last six years.”
They are not well advertised.
Jan Milburn
Jan Milburn, a middle-aged local mom, points out that: “There are not many vintage shops around. And if there are, they are not well advertised.”
The downturn comes after the increasing popularity of fast fashion. This allows shoppers to purchase cheap and trendy clothing with just one click on websites or entering high street shops. Customers can get the items that are copied from celebrities’ outfit or the catwalk’s collection at breakneck speed.
However, today’s fashion industry has seen an upward trend in vintage clothing, which is considered as a response to the effects of fast fashion.
The trend is recently back in fashion due to the rise of the conscious consumer.
Eco-sustainability
Style and individuality
I really can find unique pieces to update my wardrobe.Kim Chu
Recently, vintage sections have been added by fashion brands, Topshop with “We are cow” and the Urban Outfitters’s “Urban Renewal”.
Vintage fashion is back in demand as people long for uncomplicated things in an increasingly complex world.
The trend has made a certain impact on both customers’ purchasing habit and the local fashion industry.
